Analysis of heat pump condenser's performance using the mathematical model and a numerical method

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the performance of the heat pump's condenser and functionality, suitability of the steady-state mode mathematical model and the used numerical method. The heat transferred through the condenser is the performance of the condenser. The condenser is plate exchanger. The refrigerant is R 134a and the heated medium is water. This wide-range study investigates the condenser's performance depending on four independent external variables. The independent external variables are: inlet temperature of the refrigerant, refrigerant mass flow rate, the water inlet temperature and the water mass flow rate. The investigation is carried out by using a steady state mode mathematical model with lumped parameter. The model consists of two parts. Part one describes mathematically the cooling of the superheated vapor, while the second part describes the condensation itself. The physical model is simple, only the plate condenser and the input, output parameters are included. This article does not take into consideration the compressor and circulating pump model. That remains the subject of future investigation. The results can be represented in three-dimensional graphics. For example, it shows the changes of heat transfer in the condenser depending on the refrigerant mass flow rate and the water mass flow rate.