Heat Source Temperature Research Articles

Advanced eco-friendly power and cooling cogeneration-thermal energy storage utilizing phase change materials and chemisorption in renewable-based configurations

Increasing the reliability, stability, and safety of renewable energy systems depends on the integration of energy storage systems in order to balance energy production and demand. This research introduces an innovative system that combines a chemisorption unit, a phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage (TES) mechanism, and a solar thermal unit with Linear Fresnel Reflectors (LFRs), tailored for residential usage. The system’s performance and dynamics are examined using TRNSYS and MATLAB software tools. Within this system, electricity is produced via a turbine propelled by the pressure differential created by chemical reactions within a chemisorption unit. Concurrently, cooling was facilitated through the ammonia evaporation process within an evaporator. At heat source temperatures between 100–200 °C, the system achieved a maximum electricity output of 2,718.9 W and a cooling rate of 14,601.5 W. The energy efficiency peaked at 46.32 %, and exergy efficiency at 40.78 %. The thermal energy storage component, with a volume of 1.5 m3, achieved a maximum storage capacity of 253.7 kWh. The study shows that higher heat source temperatures enhance production capacity but reduce the coefficient of performance (COP) for cooling by approximately 25 %. Overall, the system demonstrates significant potential for improving the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems.

Enhancing thermodynamic performance with an advanced combined power and refrigeration cycle with dual LNG cold energy utilization

Utilizing waste heat to drive thermodynamic systems is imperative for improving energy efficiency, thereby improving sustainability. A combined cooling and power systems (CCP) utilizes heat from a temperature source to deliver both power and cooling. However, CCP systems utilizing LNG cold energy suffers from low second law efficiency due to significant temperature differences. To address this, an “Advanced Power and Cooling with LNG Utilization (ACPLU)” system is proposed, integrating a cascaded transcritical carbon dioxide (TCO2)-LNG cycle with an Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) for improved power generation and an absorption refrigeration system (ARS) for simultaneous cooling. This study evaluates the second law efficiency, net work output, and exergy destruction performance through a sensitivity analysis, optimizing variables such as heat source temperature, superheater temperature difference, ORC and CO2 turbine inlet and condenser pressures, evaporator temperature, and pinch point temperatures of heat exchangers and generator. Compared to previous studies on CCP systems, the ACPLU shows a superior performance, with a second law efficiency of 27.3 % and a net work output of 11.76 MW. Cyclopentane as an ORC working fluid resulted in the highest second law efficiency of 29.06 % and net work output of 12.27 MW. Parametric analysis suggested that heat source temperature significantly impacts net power output. The exergy analysis concluded that a high-pressure ratio and good thermal match between the heat exchangers enhance overall performance. Utilizing artificial neural network (ANN) to produce a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) objective function and performing multi-objective optimization (MOO) using genetic algorithm (GA), an improved second law efficiency and net power output by 28.11 % and 14.16 MW respectively, with pentane as the working fluid, is demonstrated. An average cost rate of 9.121 $/GJ was observed through a thermo-economic analysis. The ACPLU system is promising for medium temperature waste heat recovery, such as, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants.

Thermos-economic performance of a novel CCHP system driven by low-grade thermal energy based on CO2 and organic fluids

A novel combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system is proposed based on mixture consisting of CO2 and organic fluids to meet the seasonal energy demand in buildings. Thermodynamic model was constructed based on the laws of thermodynamics, and seasonal operation modes were also established. Techno-economic performance was analyzed and the performance of mixture consisting of CO2 and organic fluids compared with CO2 and pure organic fluids. Results show that the temperature of the turbine inlet in trans-critical power cycle should be 10 °C lower than the heat source temperature, with the turbine inlet pressure being approximately 1.4 times as large as critical pressure. Turbine inlet temperature is negatively correlated to the payback period and levelized energy cost while turbine inlet pressure is positively correlated to the system economic performance. The carbon dioxide content is negatively correlated to net power output, thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency, while coefficient of performance will hit the bottom with the carbon dioxide content, except CO2/Propane. For the carbon dioxide content is between 5 % and 10 %, the system overall performance is also close to optimal value. In general, CO2/R134a (0.10/0.90) and CO2/R1234ze(E) (0.10/0.90) is recommendable.

Graphene thermionic energy converter integrated with two-stage thermoelectric generator for energy cascade utilization

For the purpose of energy cascade utilization, a new coupling system consisting of a graphene-based thermionic energy converter and a two-stage thermoelectric generator is proposed, in which the waste heat of graphene-based thermionic energy converter is recovered by the two-stage thermoelectric generator for generating extra power. Based on thermionic emission, semiconductor physics, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, mathematical equations for power, efficiency, and exergy efficiency of the coupling system are presented, and the general performance features of the hybrid system are revealed. Numerical analysis shows that the maximum efficiency, maximum power density, and maximum exergy efficiency of the coupling system are 54.99%, 7.93Wcm−2, and 68.75%, respectively. Moreover, the maximum efficiency and maximum power density of the coupling system are enhanced by 28.39% and 28.52%, respectively, and the maximum exergy efficiency is improved by 28.39% compared to the stand-alone graphene-based thermionic energy converter. Subsequently, comprehensive parametric analyses are carried out to derive the effects of the heat source temperature, Fermi level of graphene, cathode work function, semiconductor element area-length ratio, and the Thomson effect on the performance of the coupled system. The obtained results may be useful for the design and running of this kind of energy cascade utilization system.

Variable Switching System for Heat Protection and Dissipation of Ultra-LEO Satellites Based on LHP Coupled with TEC

Ultra-low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites are widely used in the military, remote sensing, scientific research, and other fields. The ultra-LEO satellite faces the harsh aerothermal environment, and the complex variable attitude task requires the radiator of the satellite to not only meet the heat dissipation requirements of the load but also to resist aerothermal flux. In this study, the aerothermal flux of 160–110 km was calculated, and the loop heat pipe (LHP) coupled with a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) and multi-layer insulation (MLI) were applied to ultra-LEO satellites to determine the variable switching and fast response of heat dissipation and heat protection. An aerothermal flux simulation test platform was built. After the assessment of the ultra-LEO aerothermal flux test, even when the head temperature was as high as 350 °C and the side radiator temperature was as high as 160 °C, the temperature of the internal heat source could be controlled within 22.5 °C through the efficient work of the thermal variable switch system. The study confirms the accuracy and feasibility of the system, which provides an important reference for the subsequent actual on-orbit mission.

Experimental and numerical analysis of cosine wave heat source on thermal storage performance of a conical spiral shell-tube energy storage system

Solar radiation is the main driving force for the energy source of solar collectors, and its intensity determines the amount of energy that solar collectors can absorb. Therefore, the periodicity of radiation intensity will lead to periodic fluctuations in the outlet water temperature of solar collectors. This study numerically investigates the effects of the heat source period, amplitude, inlet flow rate, and steady state heat source temperature on the thermal storage performance of conical spiral shell-tube energy storage systems when the inlet temperature varies periodically as a cosine function using fluent software. The results show that when heat source periods are between 5 and 300 min, compared to the constant heat source, the total energy storage capacity can be increased by a maximum of 7.32 %. The melting time can be shortened by a maximum of 16.31 %. The average energy storage rate and energy storage efficiency can be increased by a maximum of 4.08 % and 0.17 %, respectively. When amplitudes are increased from 0 to 20 K, the melting time, total energy storage capacity, and energy storage efficiency are reduced by 30.21 %, 1.19 %, and 1.64 %, respectively. The average energy storage rate increases by 41.59 %. Furthermore, compared to the constant heat source, increasing the inlet flow rate and steady state heat source temperature has more significant effects on the thermal storage performance under cosine wave heat sources. The results can provide some reference for the optimization of phase change thermal storage systems under unsteady state conditions.

Innovative and efficient integrations of desalination plants coupled absorption, adsorption, and humidification-dehumidification desalination units employing external heat recovery techniques

Thermal desalination technologies have been developed recently to solve some pressing problems, such as high energy expenditure, increasing fuel costs, and environmental problems related to conventional plants. However, these technologies still need to be enhanced in terms of water production and gain output ratio (GOR). This paper presents innovative and efficient combined thermal desalination plants consisting of absorption (ABDS), adsorption (ADDS), and humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination units to enhance energy utilization, water production, and overall system performance. Four innovative combined desalination plants employing different external heat recovery scenarios are presented and compared. The result from each scenario is evaluated and compared with those of the standalone ABDS and with other studies found in the literature at the same heat source temperatures. The heat source is mainly utilized to drive the ABDS plant. The ADDS and HDH are driven by the heat rejection from the ABDS components with different external heat recovery scenarios. Results illustrated that the maximum freshwater production generated from the proposed scenarios ranges between 1.57 and 2.94 m3.day−1 with a GOR of between 1.38 and 1.75 at 120 °C. Raising heat source temperatures from 55 to 120 °C decreased the improvement in the water productivity from 618.5 to 224 % and decreased the enhancement in the GOR from 222.8 to 99 %. In scenarios where the ADDS and HDH are driven by the heat rejection from the absorption and condensation process of the ABDS, the maximum freshwater production results from the ABDS unit. On the other hand, in scenarios where the ADDS and HDH are driven by the outlet hot water from the ABDS-generator, the maximum freshwater production is obtained from the HDH unit. The finding provided that the proposed innovative scenarios have an effective improvement in overall system performance indicators.

Experimental and numerical study of structural parameters on the heat transfer performance of submerged cooling system

Immersion direct contact cooling effectively transfers heat from electronic components to a cooling solution without additional thermal resistance, due to its high energy density, low power consumption, system simplicity, and integrated thermal management for electronic devices. Current scholarly research on immersed structures predominantly focuses on surface temperature effects, with a scant investigation into internal flow and temperature field distributions concerning boundary layers. This study addresses structural optimization in immersion cooling systems, employing experimental and simulation methods to elucidate the thermal mechanisms by which structural optimization impacts the performance of chip immersion cooling systems. The research examines the impact of panel spacing and liquid level height on the thickness of velocity and thermal boundary layers, as well as the combined effects of natural and forced convection under three distinct cooling modes. Analysis reveals that heat pipe immersion cooling can reduce the heat source junction temperature to 40.7 °C under a 60 W power dissipation, a 47.2 % decrease from the bare heat source temperature. Reducing panel spacing disrupts the thermal boundary, enhancing forced convection and lowering the junction temperature by up to 10.1 % (6.5 °C). As liquid level height increases, the junction temperature initially decreases and then rises, with an optimal height of 175 mm for the best overall heat transfer effect. At low flow velocities (0.04 m/s), the vertical buoyancy-induced flow velocity at the heat source surface (24.2 × 10-6 m/s) exceeds the horizontal forced convection velocity (0.78 × 10-6 m/s), indicating that buoyancy changes due to density differences are significant and must be considered.

Multi-objective optimization design of a solar-powered integrated multi-generation system based on combined SCO2 Brayton cycle and ORC using machine learning approach

In order to reduce the use of fossil fuels and meet the needs of different energy products, this paper proposes an integrated multi-generation system that can produce power, cooling, and freshwater. A mathematical model is established to analyze the system performance from the perspectives of energy, exergy and economics. Different machine learning algorithms are used to develop prediction models of the system performance. By comparing the predictive performance of different machine learning models, the optimal model is obtained to replace the thermodynamic model of the proposed system to accelerate the optimization process. The results show that the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) model demonstrates the highest predictive accuracy and the lowest relative error fluctuation. When comparing the multi-objective optimization results of the BPNN model with those of the thermodynamic model, it can be observed that the results achieved through both models are very close. Furthermore, the optimization time using the BPNN model is significantly shorter than the thermodynamic model. Finally, under the conditions of solar radiation intensity of 950 W/m2, heliostat field area of 1000 m2, and heat source temperature of 838.15 K, the total product output, thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and levelized cost of energy at the final optimal point obtained through BPNN model-based optimization are 2.486 MW, 26.16 %, 23.64 %, and 0.105 $/kWh, respectively. The net power output, cooling capacity, and freshwater flow rate are 2.006 MW, 131.06 kW, and 8.27 m3/h, respectively.

Enhanced performance of thermoelectric generation system by increasing temperature difference using spray cooling

Thermoelectric generation system (TEGS) can directly convert the waste heat to electricity in practice. The power generation is highly impacted by the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends. To significantly improve the temperature difference, various cooling technologies have been applied to TEGS. However, there is still room to further increase the power generation efficiency of TEGS by enhancing the cooling performance. Herein, spray cooling was introduced to the TEGS and influencing factors were investigated. The experimental study demonstrates that, upon the spray cooling, the cold-end temperature can be dramatically reduced up to 27 °C. Further, the output performance of the TEGS was substantially increased by optimizing spray heights, flow rates and heat source temperatures, etc. For example, for the spray height of 3 cm, the TEGS achieves a maximum output voltage because the thermoelectric generation module (TGM) is completely covered by the spray area in this study. Moreover, the temperature difference between cold/hot ends and voltage of the TEGS are further increased to 55 °C and 1.39 V at a flow rate of 100 L/min. On the other hand, increasing the heat source temperature (hot end temperature) can also strongly improve the output performance of the TEGS. Particularly, compared to passive air cooling, spray cooling can enable the TEGS to significantly increase its output voltage and current by 17 and 27 times, respectively. Finally, this study would potentially provide a new cooling strategy to strongly enhance the output performance of TEGS.

Experimental Study of Composite Heat Pipe Radiator in Thermal Management of Electronic Components

Conventional straight fin (SF) radiators have difficulties meeting the cooling requirements of high-power electronic components. Therefore, based on the structure and technology of the detachable fin radiator, this paper proposes a kind of radiator embedded in the heat pipe base and uses the roll-bond flat heat pipe (RBFHP) to replace the traditional fin. The radiator has the advantages of modularity, easy manufacturing, low cost and good heat balance. In this study, the heat pipes (HPs)-RBFHPs radiator was tested in natural convection and forced convection to mimic the actual application scenario and compared with the conventional aluminum radiator. Heating power, angle, wind speed and other aspects were studied. The results showed that the cooling performance of the HPs-RBFHPs radiator was improved by 10.7% to 55% compared with that of the SF radiator under different working conditions. The minimum total thermal resistance in the horizontal state was only 0.37 °C/W. The temperature equalization of the base played a dominant role in the performance of the radiator at a large angle, and the fin group could be ineffective when the angle was greater than 60°. Under the most economical conditions with an inclination of 0° and a wind speed of 2 m/s, the input power was 340 W, the heat source temperature of the HPs-RBFHPs was only 64.2 °C, and the heat dissipation performance was 55.4% higher than that of SFs.

Efficient cascade waste heat utilization using thermoacoustic engine with variable temperature heat sources

Waste heat recovery is vital for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and meeting increasing power demands. Thermoacoustic engines present a promising solution. However, existing research predominantly focuses on single heating temperatures, which restricts their efficiency in harnessing heat sources with variable temperatures. To overcome this limitation, this work proposed a novel concept of thermoacoustic engine containing multistage heat exchangers capable of cascade waste heat recovery by incorporating bypass orifices to address this issue. By organizing decreasing temperatures of heat source across heat exchangers with decreasingly lower temperatures, multiple heat-to-power energy conversions can be achieved. Theoretical analyses demonstrate that the total exergy utilization efficiency of single-stage (37.7 %), two-stage (47.6 %), and three-stage systems (51.2 %) significantly increases when increasing the stage number up to three. Further increasing the stage number results in less efficiency improvement (only a 1.3 % increase in a four-stage system). Simulation results show that the three-stage thermoacoustic engine can achieve an acoustic power of 2.7 kW and a total exergy utilization efficiency of 51.2 % for recovering 12 kW variable-temperature heat sources. Coupling the engine with a linear alternator increases electricity production by 12 % with higher waste heat utilization rate compared to traditional single-stage thermoacoustic generators. The experimental results further underscore the capability of the proposed thermoacoustic generator to effectively utilize heat sources with variable temperatures.

Experimental investigation of two-stage NH3–H2O resorption heat storage system with solution concentration difference

Widespread application of solar energy is severely restricted to its instability in time and space. Heat storage system is considered to be one of the most effective pathways to achieve long-term heat supply. Among all the heat storage technologies, solution concentration difference storage technologies stand out for low heat loss and high energy density. By substituting condenser and evaporator in conventional absorption cycle with a high-pressure absorber and low-pressure generator, a resorption cycle could be established. Compared with absorption heat storage cycle, working pressure of resorption heat cycle is lower, making it possible to utilize low-pressure heat source. Two-stage heat source cycle is further proposed to lower working pressure and upgrading supply water temperature. Resorption energy storage cycle with solution concentration difference is established and studied. A prototype based on two-stage ammonia-water resorption heat storage cycle was set up and tested. The result shows that the constraint relation between ambient temperature and heat source temperature of the proposed system. In single-stage mode, the lowest working ambient temperature is 5 °C when heat source temperature is 90 °C. The lowest working ambient temperature could be declined to 0 °C when heat source temperature rises to 120 °C. In two-stage mode, the lowest working ambient temperature is 0 °C when heat source temperature is only 110 °C, which proves the adaptability of two-stage cycle. The highest ESCOP appears in the 15 °C–120 °C single-stage mode, which is 0.742. The highest COP is 1.324 under the same condition. The highest energy density occurs in two-stage mode, which is 467.07 kJ/kg when ambient and heat source is set as 15 °C, 120 °C. The advantage that two-stage mode could enlarge solution concentration difference is verified.

Selection of pure and binary working fluids for high-temperature heat pumps: A financial approach

High-temperature heat pumps are increasingly being recognized for decarbonizing industrial heat supply up to 200 °C. In the open literature, the operating conditions, working fluids and configurations of high-temperature heat pumps are typically optimized for achieving a maximum Coefficient of Performance (COP). This work however presents a method that optimizes the operating conditions, working fluid and configuration of the heat pump, based on a combined financial and technical appraisal. In this regard a financial model to calculate the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) of a heat pump unit is developed. The model screens a large set of working fluids and therefore allows for subcritical, transcritical and supercritical operation and includes (zeotropic) binary mixtures. The methodology is applied to a large set of generic temperature profiles, with process temperatures between 160 °C and 200 °C and heat source temperatures between 80 °C and 120 °C. The results indicate that designing a heat pump solely based on maximum COP may lead to a sub-optimal financial solution. Overall, binary mixtures, either zeotropic or azeotropic, of natural working fluids often performed best. The benefits of zeotropic mixtures are twofold: improved temperature matching and flexibility in their thermophysical properties. However, for industrial processes with high temperature glides, pure fluids operating in the transcritical regime proved to be the most promising. The study also highlights the sensitivity of the financial performance to the electricity price, annual operating hours and heating capacity.

Research on heat recovery technology of liquid metal heat dissipation system

In the fields of battery packs, data centers, and chips, the inevitable waste heat threatens the performance and life of devices. To solve this problem, this research developed a self-driven cooling system based on heat recovery. The system uses liquid metal gallium as the cooling medium, uses waste heat to excite energy, and supplies power to the drive pump through the thermoelectric module to complete the cooling cycle. The cooling effect of the system is analyzed in detail through experimentation and simulation. At the same time, the critical modules of the system are optimized, and the topology circuits, including maximum power point tracking (MPPT), boost, and temperature monitoring, are designed and simulated. The temperature changes of the simulated heat source under different flow rates are further discussed. The research shows that the optimized topology circuit can improve the output power of the thermoelectric module by 13 %. Using waste heat, the system can output 5v-50 mA electric energy at a temperature difference of 30 K. The flow rate of liquid metal gallium can reach 100 mL/min, the pressure head is 250 Pa, and the temperature of the simulated heat source can be reduced by 4.5 K. In addition, the reasonable selection of flow rate can not only effectively reduce the device temperature but also reduce the power consumption. Compared with no self-drive, the heat dissipation efficiency is improved by 73.8 %. The system’s heat recovery and self-driving characteristics significantly improve the heat dissipation performance, which provides a significant reference value for the design of self-driving heat dissipation systems in engineering applications.

Dynamic performance and control analysis of supercritical CO2 brayton cycle for solid oxide fuel cell waste heat recovery

Due to the high-temperature operation of solid oxide fuel cell, recovering its exhaust waste heat is worthwhile. The supercritical CO2 cycle features low compression power consumption and high thermal efficiency, making it a promising power cycle. Therefore, this paper adopts the supercritical CO2 recompression cycle as the bottom cycle, combined with solid oxide fuel cell to form a joint system, further improving energy utilization. Given the long temperature response time of the solid oxide fuel cell and the variability of its exhaust waste heat with load changes, this paper innovatively proposes establishing an integrated dynamic model of the joint system, instead of directly providing heat source flow and temperature changes as in traditional research, to more accurately study the dynamic response of the cycle during solid oxide fuel cell startup and load variations. Based on this, a control strategy utilizing inventory control is proposed, and the feasibility of the control effect is verified. The research results indicate that the uncontrolled cycle may lead to safety issues with a significant increase in turbine inlet temperature when solid oxide fuel cell load increases. Under the control strategy, the turbine inlet temperature and main compressor inlet temperature are rapidly stabilized at the target values. The controlled cycle achieves higher efficiency compared to the uncontrolled cycle, particularly prominent during solid oxide fuel cell load reduction, with an efficiency increase of approximately 5.23%.

Research on Seabed Erosion Monitoring Technology of Offshore Structures Based on the Principle of Heat Transfer

The erosion of the seabed around offshore structures has emerged as a critical factor impeding the operational safety of offshore engineering facilities. Prompt and precise identification and monitoring of the water–soil interface hold significant importance in mitigating the seabed erosion challenges facing offshore structures. To tackle this issue, a monitoring framework for the water–soil interface is proposed, grounded in heat transport theory. This framework exploits the thermodynamic variances between seawater and the seabed soil to examine the temperature changes in linear heat sources in water and soil under a constant power. In this study, a typical metallic material—iron (Fe)—and non-metallic material—polyvinyl chloride (PVC)—are considered the linear heat sources, and their temperature variations are analyzed within this framework. The findings reveal that the temperature of the linear heat sources rapidly stabilizes, with the ultimate temperature exhibiting a logarithmic correlation with the convective heat transfer coefficient. To further test the practicability of the framework, an indoor test is conducted. The errors between the theoretical calculation results and the experimental results are less than 14% in water and 19% in soil. The results of the framework and the indoor test have a high degree of coincidence. This framework has proved that it can be used in practical engineering.

Multiscale experimental insights into vacuum drying of sludge for enhanced energy efficiency and emission control

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the vacuum drying process for sludge drying, with a focus on optimizing energy efficiency and emission control. The study used both lab-scale static and pilot-scale vacuum drying systems to test various parameters like vacuum levels, heat source temperatures, and sludge thicknesses. The results indicated that optimal drying conditions were achieved at a vacuum level of −0.06 MPa, a heat temperature of 140 °C, and a sludge thickness of 3.4 mm, where the drying rate reaches 0.13278 g·g−1·min−1. The study underscores the significant influence of vacuum level, temperature, and sludge thickness on drying rates. The Page model was used to analyze drying kinetics, elucidating how changes in these parameters affect drying characteristics. Furthermore, the study also examined the pollutant emissions and energy efficiency at the pilot scale. It found that high vacuum environments could efficiently dry sludge using low-temperature heat source, leading to average energy consumption per unit evaporation of 3020.29 kJ/kg, which is lower compared to traditional methods. By harnessing low-grade industrial waste heat, this can be further reduced to 875.76 kJ/kg. This study offers valuable insights for sustainable sludge management systems, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of vacuum drying technology. The detailed experimental approach and thorough analysis make a significant contribution to the field of the sludge drying.

Development and performance evaluation of a high solar contribution resorption-compression cascade heat pump for cold climates

Absorption-resorption heat pumps (ARHPs) have great potential in utilizing low-temperature solar heat for efficient winter heating, but are limited by their weak adaptability to cold climates relative to absorption heat pumps (AHPs) and vapor compression heat pumps (VCHPs). In this work, a resorption-compression cascade system consisting of ARHP and VCHP subsystems is proposed and investigated, with the goal of achieving efficient winter heating with improved solar contribution in cold climates. Thermodynamic models of the two subsystems and of the whole cascade system are developed for system feasibility verification and performance evaluations. Feasible operation temperature and pressure conditions are identified in terms of internal subsystem matching. Based on these operation conditions, the primary energy ratio (PER) – which is a key performance evaluation index – is investigated over a range of solar fractions (f). The results show that for cases without solar contribution, the PER can be generally >0.95 under feasible operating conditions. In addition, the primary energy saving ratio (PESR) and heating capacity lift ratio (εlift), as well as the heat source temperature (Th) and ambient temperature (Tamb) restriction, are all investigated and compared to those of other, competing heating systems. The results show that the proposed system can reduce the Th demand to 69 °C (with a minimum Tamb of −21 °C) and extend the operational Tamb to −31 °C (with a minimum Th of 90 °C), while importantly achieving PESR > 0.20 and εlift > 20 % under the above extreme conditions. Moreover, when integrating the system with solar heat with f > 43 %, the proposed solar-assisted system has a clear PER advantage over an equivalent VCHP system in the Tamb range from −31 °C to 10 °C, highlighting the possibility of achieving higher solar contribution in cold climates.

Experimental and simulation study on a new gradient waste heat recovery system with a wider application range

This paper proposes a cascade sustainable waste heat recovery technology with low power consumption and the ability to recover waste heat in a wider temperature range, namely, the Absorption-Compression Coupled Heat Pump System. Experiments and simulations were conducted to reveal the effects of different factors on system performance. The results demonstrate that the coefficient of performance and exergy efficiency of the new system increase with an increase in generator outlet water temperature. The coefficient of performance of the new system decreases with an increase in supply heating water inlet water temperature, while the exergy efficiency increases with an increase in supply heating water inlet water temperature. As intermediate temperature increases, the coefficient of performance of new system shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, the total heating shows a trend of first increasing and then stabilizing, and the exergy efficiency shows a decreasing trend. Compared to single-effect absorption heat pump system, the new system can recover heat at lower heat source temperatures, and compared to compression heat pump system, it can reduce electricity consumption. Finally, by comparing with experimental data, it was found that the proposed model has good reliability, with a comprehensive error within ±7 %.