Experimental Evaluation of a Heat Pump-Latent Storage System for Increasing Renewable Share of the Residential Stock

摘要

In the present work, the integration of a three-fluids heat exchanger in the evaporator of a reversible heat pumpis evaluated. The heat exchanger includes internally finned passages for the refrigerant of the heat pump cycleand for the heat transfer fluid (water/glycol mixture) and externally finned passages for Phase Change Material(PCM). The selected PCM is a commercial paraffin (RT4) with nominal melting point of 4 °C. The operationof the integrated heat pump with latent storage under typical cooling season conditions in Mediterranean warmclimates were evaluated through an experimental campaign at CNR. The effect of operating modes andoperational conditions was identified. During charge, the variable speed of the compressor was found to yieldthe maximum effect on storage dynamics, whereas during discharge the prevalent effect is that of the heattransfer fluid flow rate. Based on the outcomes of measurement, a critical design review and control strategyimprovement were carried out.