Optimum cycle control of a two-stage injection heat pump with a double expansion sub-cooler

The refrigerant injection technique has rapidly developed in recent years due to its outstanding performance at low ambient temperatures, and various control methods for a heat pump with injection have been presented. However, most studies on cycle control have been theoretical, and practical control methods for cycle optimization based on experimental results hardly have been presented. In this study, an optimum cycle control method was proposed for a refrigerant injection heat pump with a double expansion sub-cooler based on the intermediate pressure and the injection ratio. The optimum sub-cooler pressure ratio was proposed from 0.4 to 0.7 in view of the heating capacity, and from 0.7 to 0.8 in view of the COP. The optimum injection ratio increased from 0.1 to 0.3 with an increase in the compression ratio. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.