Data for NIST Technical Note: Validation and Optimization with a Vapor Compression Cycle Model Accounting for Refrigerant Thermodynamic and Transport Properties

This data set includes (1) Experimental measurements, and (2) Simulation data. The experimental data set shows raw measurements and important calculated parameters. The simulation data are for the NIST vapor-compression system model, CYCLE_D-HX, and show the input data and output results. The simulation inputs are based on the experimental measurements.CYCLE_D-HX is a semi-theoretical model that simulates performance of a vapor-compression cycle with forced-convection heat exchangers for specified temperature profiles of the heat source and heat sink. In this study, we validated CYCLE_D-HX using experimental measurements from a small (< 4 kW capacity) heat pump test apparatus operated in cooling mode. We also applied the model to simulate performance of selected refrigerants in a system with optimized refrigerant circuitries in the evaporator and condenser. The tested refrigerants included the medium-pressure refrigerant R-134a and candidate replacements with a lower global-warming potential (GWP): R-513A, R-450A, R-134a/1234yf/1234ze(E) (49.2/33.8/17.0 mass %), R-515B, and R-1234yf. We also tested high-pressure refrigerant R-410A and candidate replacements with lower-GWP: R-32, R-452B, and R-454B. The model generally agreed with experimental results, with COP and Qvol overpredicted by (0 to 3) % for the basic cycle, and by (0 to 5) % for the cycle with the liquid-line/suction-line heat exchanger (LLSL-HX). Simulations with equal compressor efficiency and optimized tube circuitry showed the COP spread among medium-pressure refrigerants could be reduced to 3 % with proper design, compared to (12 to 33) % from the experiments. In optimized systems, the high-pressure refrigerants? COP was (1 to 6) % higher than the COP of the medium-pressure refrigerants. The LLSL-HX improved performance of refrigerants with high molar heat capacity (here, the medium-pressure refrigerants) by (1.0 to 1.5) %.

[
  "006:55"
]

[
  "en"
]

[
  "006:045"
]

[
  "Energy:Energy efficiency",
  "Energy:Sustainability",
  "Environment:Environmental health"
]