Current Study

The current study is an extension to the previous experimental study, however, the objective of the current study is to determine how the heat pump unit responds to a wide range of input temperatures. As well, a goal of the current study is to determine if the steady-state model previously developed in the first study can accurately predict the dynamic operation of the system. A varying power input to the heaters was applied ranging from 750 — 1500 W in a sinusoidal fashion, similar to that of a daily solar heat input. The fluid temperatures delivered to the evaporator varied between 15 and 37oC corresponding to the power output of the heaters. The results of the current study are compared to the simulated results of Freeman’s model, and will be used to eventually refine the model to better predict the actual operation of an ISAHP system.