Refrigeration systems and heat pumps only differ in the definition of their use, but can be of the same design. For example, goods can be refrigerated in a supermarket and the store heated with the waste heat. The store can also be cooled with the same system in the summer.
With the cooling and heating operation can be investigated. Different operating modes can be selected via solenoid valves. Thus the glycol-water mixture in the tank can be heated or cooled. In pure cooling operation (without heating function) the heat exchanger with fan as air-cooled condenser dissipates the heat. This heat exchanger can be also switched as an evaporator.
The measured values are read from digital displays and can at the same time be transmitted via USB directly to a PC where they can be analysed using the software included. The software enables a clear representation of the process.
The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.The unit shall perform the following experiments and investigations:
Learning Objectives / Experiments
Design, operation and key components of a heat pump or refrigeration system
Depresentation of the thermodynamic cycle in the log p-h diagram
Comparing different operating modes
Measurement of compressor capacity and heating or cooling Capacity in the glycol-water circuit
Determination of efficiency
Coefficient of performance of heat pump and refrigeration system
Specific compressor load
Compressor pressure ratio
Specific cooling capacity
Specific refrigeration capacity
Comparing key figures of heat pump and
Refrigeration system
Specification
Air-to-water heat pump for cooling or heating operation
Different operating modes selectable via solenoid valves
Refrigeration circuit with compressor, condenser (heat exchanger with fan), 2 evaporators with fan (refrigeration and freezing stage)
glycol-water circuit with tank, pump and coaxial coil heat exchanger
Coaxial coil heat exchanger and heat exchanger with fan can both be used as condenser or evaporator in the refrigeration circuit
1 thermostatic expansion valve each for all heat exchangers and evaporators
1 additional evaporation pressure controller and 1 capillary tube for the refrigeration stage evaporator
Displays for temperature, pressure, flow rate and power consumption of the compressor
Software for data acquisition with USB under Windows Vista or Windows 7