Abstract
In this report, 24-hour energy factor (EF) and first-hour draw rating (FHR) simulations were conducted on two heat pump water heater systems (HPWHs), one using a fin-and-tube evaporator and wrapped-tank condenser coil with D-shape tubes, and the other using a micro-channel evaporator and wrapped-tank condenser coil with microchannel tubes. Alternative refrigerants as drop-in replacements of R-134a were evaluated, including R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E), propane (R-290), R-450A and R-513A.
The results are summarized below:
1. Microchannel heat exchangers can decrease the system charge down to 30% relative to fin-and-tube evaporator and wrapped-tank D tubes.
2. Having the same contact surface area to the water tank and evaporator frontal flow area, the system using microchannel heat exchangers (MHXs) results in 5% efficiency degradation. Due to the very small cross-sectional flow area of a microchannel tube, MHXs tend to have multiple parallel tubes to restrict the refrigerant pressure drop. The parallel pattern can’t utilize the water temperature stratification as effectively as the D-shape tubes, which are arranged in one or two circuits and counter flow to the water stratification.
3. Refrigerant drop-in system simulations were conducted for R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E), propane, R450A and R513A in comparison to R-134a. Among the alternatives, propane has the largest volumetric capacity, which results in shortest HPWH run time and highest first-hour rating. Propane leads to the smallest energy factor because its largest volumetric capacity overloads the heat exchangers. R-1234ze(E) has the smallest volumetric capacity, highest energy factor, but smallest first-hour rating. R-1234yf, R-450A and R-513A achieve similar performance indices as R-134a.
4. Propane requires the least refrigerant mass (45% relative to R-134a). If a wrapped-tank microchannel condenser and microchannel evaporator are used, the required system charge can be limited below 150 grams, which makes it feasible to use propane for domestic HPWH.
