• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.837-844
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• 2010

In this study, performance of R1234yf and R1234yf/R134a mixture is measured on a heat pump bench tester in an attempt to substitute R134a used widely in mobile air conditioners (MACs). The bench tester is equipped with a open type compressor providing a nominal capacity of 3.5 kW. All tests are conducted under the summer cooling and winter heating conditions of 7/4 $5^{\circ}C$ and $-7/41^{\circ}C$ in the evaporator and condenser, respectively. For R1234yf/R134a mixture, measurements are made at 5%, 10%, and 15% of R134a by mass. Test results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) and capacity of R1234yf are up to 2.7% and 4.0% lower than those of R134a, respectively. For R1234yf/R134a mixture, the COP and capacity are up to 3.9% lower and 3.6% higher than those of R134a. For R1234yf and R1234yf/R134a mixture, the compressor discharge temperature is $4.1{\sim}6.7^{\circ}C$ lower than that of R134a while the amount of charge is reduced up to 11% as compared to R134a. 90%R1234yf/10%R134a is a better refrigerant than pure R1234yf in that it is less flammable and more compatible with existing R134a system. Based upon the results, it is concluded that R1234yf and R1234yf/R134a mixture are long term environmentally friendly solutions to mobile air-conditioners due to their excellent environmental properties with acceptable performance.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2011

The present study has been conducted to propose an algorithm regarding real-time load estimation of a gas engine-driven heat pump. In the study, thermal load of an indoor unit is estimated in terms of air-side and refrigerant-side. The air-side estimation is based on a typical heat exchanger model and is found to be in good agreement with experimental data. When it comes to the refrigerant-side load, a pressure difference across a valve must be estimated. For the estimation, it is assumed to be proportional to a bigger pressure difference that is available either by measurement or by estimation. Relative good agreement between the air- and refrigerant-sides suggests that the assumption may be plausible for the load estimation. The summed flow rate of all of indoor units is in good agreement with the throughput of the compressor which are calculated from the manufacturer's software. Accordingly, estimated thermal loads are also in good agreement. The proposed algorithm may be further developed for improved control algorithm and fault diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.383-391
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• 2010

In this study, HFC152a, HFC134a/HFC152a and HC290/HFC134a/HFC152a mixtures are studied for the supplementary and alternative refrigerants for HFC134a used in automobile air-conditioners. Due to the high global warming potential of HFC134a, it has to be phased out in the long run. Thermodynamic performance of these refrigerants are measured in a bench tester of 3.5 kW capacity with an open type compressor under both summer and winter conditions. Test results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) and capacity of pure HFC152a and HFC134a/HFC152a mixture are 9.1~12% and 7% higher than those of HFC134a. As for the HC290/HFC134a/HFC152a, the COP is up to 9.5% higher than that of HFC134a with 1~2% of HC290 while that is up to 6.1% lower than that of HFC134a with 5% HC290. The capacity of the ternary mixture, however, is 8.6% higher than that of HFC134a at all compositions tested. The compressor discharge temperatures of all refrigerants tested are $6{\sim}10^{\circ}C$ higher than that of HFC134a. For all refrigerants, the amount of charge is reduced up to 32% due to the decrease in liquid density. Overall, these refrigerants provide good performance with reasonable energy savings with less environmental problem and thus can be used as long term alternatives for automobile air-conditioners.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2016

This study explores the feasibility of a cold storage system to provide thermal comfort for idle stop and go (ISG) vehicles. ISG function is the most valuable and environmental friendly technology in the current automobile industry. However, when an ISG vehicle stops, meaning when the engine standstill, the air-conditioning system does not work, because the compressor also stops. Therefore, passenger thermal comfort is not maintained, as cold air is not provided in the cabin. Consequently, many automakers have studied electric air-conditioning systems based on electrically-driven compressors or cold storage systems using phase-change materials. The experiments herein were conducted for the feasibility testing of different types of cold storage heat-exchangers, cold storage mediums, and thermo-expansion valves with current air-conditioners. The auxiliary cold storage system, filled with phase-change materials, was located behind the evaporator and almost stacked on top of it. In the experimental results, the air discharge temperature rate of increase was better than the conventional air-conditioning system when the compressor stopped and thermal comfort was maintained with $1.9{\sim}4.3^{\circ}C$ decreases within 60 seconds. The #1 cold storage heat-exchanger (CSH), #2 thermo-expansion valve (TXV) and #2 phase change material (PCM) were chosen because of the best temperature rise delay. It was concluded that a cold storage system is an effective solution for ISG vehicles to maintain thermal comfort during short engine stops.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.544-549
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the field Operation Characteristics of a sea water heat source cascade heat pump system and system applicable to Building. Cascade heat pump system is composed R410A compressor, R134a compressor, EEV, cascade heat exchanger, Plate heat exchanger etc. Building area is $890m^2$ and has five floors above ground. R410A is used for a low-stage working fluid while R134a is for a high-stage. The system could runs at dual mode. One is mode of general R410A refrigeration cycle in summer and the other is cascade cycle. In order to gain a high temperature supply water in winter season, the system is designed to perform a cascade cycle. The filed test results show that the sea water heat source heat pump system exhibits a COP of about 5.5 in cooling mode along with a heating COP of about 4.0 in 1-stage heating mode. Cascade 2-stage heat pump system is enough to supply $60^{\circ}C$ water and heating COP is about 3.0

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2008

The cooling load in winter is significant in buildings and hotels because of the usage of office equipments and the high efficiency of wall insulation. Hence, the development of a multi-heat pump that can cover heating and cooling simultaneously for each indoor unit is required. In this study, the operating characteristics and performance of a simultaneous heating and cooling heat pump in the heating-main operating mode were investigated experimentally. The system adopted a variable speed compressor with four indoor units and one outdoor unit with R-410A. In the heating-main mode, the cooling capacity was lower than the design cooling capacity due to the reduction of the flow rate in the indoor unit for the cooling, with the increase of the heating capacity. To solve these problems, the performance characteristics of the simultaneous heating and cooling heat pump in the heating-main mode were investigated by varying the flow rate to the indoor unit for the cooling and the compressor rotating speed. In addition, the adequate control methods were suggested to improve the system efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.590-598
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• 2008

In this study, performance of R170/R290 mixtures is measured on a heat pump bench tester in an attempt to substitute R22. The bench tester is equipped with a commercial hermetic rotary compressor providing a nominal capacity of 3.5kW. All tests are conducted under the summer cooling and winter heating conditions of $7/45^{\circ}C$ and $-7/41^{\circ}C$ in the evaporator and condenser respectively. During the tests, the composition of R170 is varied from 0 to 10% with an interval of 2%. Test results show that the coefficient of performance (COP) and capacity of R290 are up to 15.4% higher and 7.5% lower than those of R22 for both conditions respectively. For R170/R290 mixture, the COP decreases and the capacity increases with an increase in the amount of R170. The mixture of 4%R170/96%R290 shows the similar capacity and COP as those of R22. For the mixture, the compressor discharge temperature is $16{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ lower than that of R22. There is no problem with mineral oil since the mixture is mainly composed of hydrocarbons. The amount of charge is reduced up to 58% as compared to R22. Overall, R170/R290 mixture is a good long term 'drop-in' candidate to replace R22 in residential air-conditioners and heat pumps.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.189-193
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• 2008

Performance of refrigerant oil at the thrust-bearing and at the journal-bearing of a scroll compressor is a significant factor. This paper presents the friction and anti-wear characteristics of nano oil with a mixture of a refrigerant oil and carbon nano particles in the journal bearing of scroll compressors. The characteristics of friction and anti-wear using nano-oil is evaluated using the disk on disk tester and the journal bearing tester for measuring friction surface temperature and the coefficient of friction at the journal bearing tester. In journal bearing test, the average friction coefficient of high concentration nano-oil was decreased down to 18% compared to raw oil under 4,500 N and 3,600 rpm. It is believed that nano particles can be coated on the wear surfaces and the interaction of nano particles between surfaces can be improved the lubrication in the friction surfaces. Worn surfaces of frictional specimen were measured with straightness. carbon nano oil enhances the characteristics of the anti-wear and friction at the joural bearing of scroll compressors.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.791-798
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• 2011

In this study, performance of R410A(50%R32/50%R125) and HFC32/HFC125 mixture is measured to examine the effect of composition shift of R410A used for various air-conditioners and heat pumps. The composition of HFC32/HFC125 mixture varies from the reference composition of R410A ${\pm}10%$ with 5% interval. Tests carried out in a heat pump bench tester at the evaporation and condensation temperatures of $7/45^{\circ}C$ and $-7/41^{\circ}C$ for summer and winter conditions, respectively. Test results show that both the coefficient of performance (COP) and compressor power of the HFC32/HFC125 mixture have the maximum difference of 2.0% as compared to those of R410A. Compressor discharge temperatures of HFC32/HFC125 mixture are increased up to $6.7^{\circ}C$ as compared to that of R410A. The amount of charge for HFC32/HFC125 mixture vary within 5.6% as compared to that of R410A. Overall, performance of R410A is not appreciably affected by the composition shift of ${\pm}10%$ of R32 under both air-conditioning and heat pumping conditions.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.225-232
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• 2013

Heat pump systems have been widely adopted in buildings for cooling and heating, due to their higher energy efficiency. Recently, the demand for hot water supply from the heat pump system has been increasing. To increase the water supply temperature with higher system efficiency and reliability, a heat pump water heater adopting cascade cycle was investigated in this study. The cascade heat pump water heater consisted of a low-stage cycle using R410A, and a high-stage cycle using R134a. A simulation program for the cascade heat pump water heater was developed, and verified by comparison with experimental data. The performance of the cascade heat pump water heater was optimized, by varying the compressor rotating speeds of the low- and high-stage cycles. At low ambient temperatures, the performance of the cascade cycle was compared with that of the single-stage cycle. The system efficiency of the cascade cycle was higher than that of the single-stage cycle, showing a lower compression ratio and compressor discharge temperature.