Authors:

Pablo Cambra Valcarcel

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About Paper:

The growing concerns over environmental degradation and the urgent need to combat global warming have heightened the exploration of sustainable and efficient energy solutions. With space heating and cooling accounting for 45% of electricity consumption in U.S. residential and commercial buildings, new cost-effective heat pump technologies are needed to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy demand. In this context, distributed wall-embedded micro heat pumps (WEMHP) are an emerging alternative to traditional hydronic radiant systems such as radiant floor heating or radiant ceiling cooling, potentially offering numerous benefits both from an energy efficiency and comfort standpoint. Thus far, limited numerical and experimental research efforts have been carried out. To evaluate the potential benefits of the WEMHP with respect conventional heat pump systems, characteristics such as comfort, energy savings, manufacturing and installation processes must be considered. A WEMHP has been designed, assembled, and tested in a laboratory environment to demonstrate its potential. The developed prototype consisted of variable-speed miniature compressor and aluminum compact roll-bond heat exchangers acting as evaporator and condenser, respectively. Designed for a 200 W heating load, the WEMHP delivers heat through its 20in x 40in interior surface panel. The system performance has been evaluated inside a pair of psychrometric chambers under varying operating conditions. The experimental results were used to validate a detailed system model, which will aid in future design optimizations. The system's heating performance is evaluated holistically, and future improvements are discussed. Keywords: Heat Pump; Radiant Heating; Energy Efficiency; Experimental Validation

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

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Co-authors:

Pablo Cambra Valcarcel