Optimal evaporation/condensation temperature determination and experimental validation for electric vehicles

Abstract

This study explores the potential of heat pump air conditioning systems in enhancing the driving range of electric vehicles (EVs) by optimizing evaporator and condenser temperatures to achieve improved system performance and efficiency. A novel methodology is introduced to determine the optimal temperatures for evaporation and condensation within such a system, seamlessly integrated with a primary return system. The validity of this approach is substantiated through rigorous experimental validation. Under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions, the heat pump air conditioning system demonstrates superior performance and reduced energy consumption, with optimal evaporator temperatures ranging from −2 °C to 2 °C and condenser temperatures between 57.1 °C and 61.8 °C during summer. Winter conditions are optimized with evaporator temperatures from −16 °C to −12 °C and condenser temperatures between 42.4 °C and 48.8 °C. Additional experiments were conducted to validate system performance in both cooling and heating modes. The results highlight a close alignment between the theoretical model for the primary return air system and actual performance, with less than a 10 % discrepancy in calculated outlet temperatures compared to experimental data across various operating conditions. This correlation validates the theoretical model’s capacity to accurately reflect real-world system behavior.