T0

COP
CO
3
3
40 50 60 70 80 90
40 50 60 70 80 90
Temperature difference ta-tb Figure 4 P
Temperature difference ta-tb Figure 4 P

Heat pump COP from definition to sales argument Figure 5

Figure 5
Qo
1
1
2
2
Qc
5,5 R507/404A Qo Qc
5,5 R507/404A
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A
R407C
R407C
5,0 R134A 3
5,0 R134A 3
R22
by: R22
R717
R717
Titus M.C. Bartholomeus, 4,5 R600
R600 Figure 4
4,5 Figure 4
Senior Development Engineer,
Grasso Products b.v.
4,0
4,0
2
2
Tc
3 Tc

COP
3 2‘

COP
3,5 2‘
3,5
20 40 60 80 100 120
20 40 60 80 100 120
Introduction Tcrit-Tc K
Tcrit-Tc K As an indication we used the following maximum T

Temperature
4 T o 1

Temperature
o 1
The oil crisis of the early 1970's initiated energy cost-related values for the current heat pumps available4 on the
interest in heat pumps. The low energy prices andFigure the aboli-
Figure
6
6 market, including peripheral equipment with variable
to/tc=0/55C
to/tc=0/55C
tion of subsidies in the 1980's saw the heat pump
10.000 sink into
10.000
temperature of heat source and heat
R507/404A
R507/404A
R410A
emission
Entropy S
Entropy S
over the
R410A
oblivion. Large amounts of fossil fuels are burned to generate entire year.
R407C
R407C
R134A
electricity, heat and power. The CO2 that this releases has an R134A
R22
1.000 R22
enormous influence on the greenhouse effect and 1.000
ultimately on Heat source
R717(NH3)
R717(NH3)
R600 ηtotal
R600
our climate. The latter fact prompted the EU to sharpen its R718(H2O)
R718(H2O)
policy and demand that the contribution of sustainable energy Ambient air 0.40
3
3
2
2
100 2‘
33
kJ/m

100 2‘
kJ/m

to energy consumption be doubled by 2010. The significant Terrestrial heat (probes) 0.45
33

part heat pumps play in this policy has caused a resurrection;

Qo/m
Qo/m

Ground, river and lake water 0.50 1

we could easily call it hype. 10
10
Q0
4
4 Q0 1P
P
10 100 *Ausbildungsmodul
1.000 Geothermei Waermepumpen Dr.Martin Zogg

logpp
10 100 1.000 Qc
Tcrit-Tc

log
Tcrit-Tc Qc
One negative side effect of hype is that the market is swamped The following matters are taken into account
Enthalpy
Enthalpy h
h in this total
with insufficient information for the purpose of higher Figure 8sales
Figure 8
efficiency:
Figure 2
figures. The efficiency of a heat pump, wrapped 3,00up in the
3,00 R134A 20
20
Figure 2
Ground water
R134A Ground water
abbreviation COP (coefficient of performance), changes Qc increase by 1.
COP andfrom use That the temperature of
COP and Qc increase by use R407C
R407C Surface water
ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K R600 15 Surface water
ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K R600 15 Air
definition to sales pitch. There is nothing wrong 2,50 with that in
2,50
the heatNH source is not
NH
Air
3
Reach
3

temperatureoCoC
Reach
principle, but there is something wrong if it is used whether it usually constant, 10
10

sourcetemperature
is relevant or not, without any relation to the2,00 usage objective,
2,00
determined by the 5
5
the application and means of business operation. The aim of influence of the seasons 0
0
this article is to separate the proverbial apples1,50 and oranges in
1,50
but also by heat being Heatsource

COP communication. withdrawn or sup- -5

-5

plied. See graph 2.

Heat

1,00 -10
1,00 -10
70 2. 80That 90 the heat emission
40 50 60 70 80 90 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
40 50 60 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
tc Temperature outside C o
Just as water does not flow uphill, heat will also tc
not flow temperature is not Temperature outside C
(Source; VDI-2067)
o

(Source; VDI-2067)
automatically from a lower temperature Tb(K) (b 99for
Figure
Figure
usually constant. See Figure 3
15 Figure 3
heat source) to a higher Ta (K) (a for heat emission). 15 You graph 3. 70
70
10
need energy for that. The COP that is theoretically 10 3. That peripheral equip- 60
5 60
achievable, called the Carnot efficiency, related 5 to the ment such as pumps
temperatureoCoC

0 50
source and emission is thus 0
45,00 60,00 and other auxiliary
75,00
50
Catchmenttemperature

45,00 60,00 75,00

-5
-5 equipment is needed to 40
40
COPcarnotsource+emissio Ta -10
-10
R407C with ZWW rend=0,6
transport and distrib- 30
R407C with ZWW rend=0,6 30
= -15
-15 R717 2-stage without ZWWute the heat.
COPinin%%

n R717 2-stage without ZWW

Catchment

R600 with ZWW rend=0,6 20

(Ta-Tb -20
-20
R600 with ZWW 4. That the heat has to be
rend=0,6
R717 without ZWW with
R717 without ZWW with
20
COP

-25
-25
heat supply on TD
heat supply on TD transferred via con- 10
10
tc 'C
Graph 1 shows the theo- Figure 1 tc 'C densers. For the Figure 7 -10
-10
0
0
10
10
20
20
9 Temperature outside C o

retical COP for most Heat source -5/30 C

highest possible0COP Temperature outside C o

applications. 8 Heat supply 45/95 C the temperature 0

T Bin

The Carnot efficiency 7

difference has to be as small as possible between heat
decreases just as fast as the source-return temperature and evaporation tempera-
6
temperature difference to ture or heat emission temperature and condensation T
COP Carnot +/-5%

Bout

be conquered increases! 5 temperature.

dT dT
4
a. A temperature difference of <3K is feasible commer- overheating out

T
The actual COP is quite a cially and technically in the condenser. 0

bit lower. The relationship 3

40 50 60 70 80 90
b. With the evaporator, it depends on the method of
between the actual and Temperature difference ta-tb evaporation. If a bath Figureor spray
4
evaporator
P
(FX) is
theoretical COP is called used, the lower limit is about 1K. With full load, the
the total efficiency. Figure 5 design usually aims at a temperature 1 2 difference of
COPactual = ηtotal x COPcarnotsource+emission
5,5 <3K. For an evaporator
R507/404A
Q
with refrigerant quantity o
Q c
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A
R407C
control based on the exit superheating (DX), the
5,0 R134A 3
R22
R717
R600
4,5 Figure 4
1
 40 50 60 70 80 90
Figure 1 Figure 7
9 Temperature difference ta-tb Figure 4 P
Heat source -5/300C
8 TBin
Heat supply 45/950C Figure 5 1 2
5,5 Qo Qc
7 R507/404A
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A
6 R407C
TBout

COP Carnot +/-5%

5,0 R134A 3
R22
5 R717
dToverheating dTout
R600
4,5 Figure 4
4 T0

3
40 50 60 70 80 90 4,0
2
Temperature difference ta-tb Figure 4 P Tc
3

COP
2‘
3,5
20 40 60 80 100 120 1 2
Figure 5
5,5 Tcrit-Tc K Qo Qc To

Temperature
R507/404A 1
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C 4
R410A
temperature difference will have to at least corre- R407C
R134A Figure 6 to/tc=0/55C 3
spond 5,0
with the minimum stable superheating. See R22
10.000 R507/404A
also graph 7. Generally about 7 to 8K, which is why R717
R410A Entropy S
R600
DX always
4,5 has a worse COP (4 to 9%) than FX. FigureR407C
4
R134A
c. The chosen refrigerant influences the heat transfer
1.000 R22
R717(NH3)
enormously.
4,0 Ammonia (R717) transfers heat much R600
2
better in condensing and evaporating than the 3
R718(H2O)
Tc
3 2
COP

2‘
synthetic
3,5 refrigerants. That can easily 100make a differ- 2‘
Qo/m3 kJ/m3

20 40 60 80 100 120
ence of 1 degree
Tcrit-Tc K
with an equal heat transfer surface.
To

Temperature
4 1
10 4 1
The Carnot efficiency for the heat pump with 10
the heat100 1.000
Q0 P

log p
Figure 6 to/tc=0/55C
transfer 10.000
temperature differences calculated as well is:
Tcrit-Tc
R507/404A
Qc
Entropy S Enthalpy h
R410A
R407C Figure 8
Tc R134A Figure 2
3,00
COPcarnot
1.000
heat pump
= R22
R717(NHCOP) and Qc increase by use
R134A Qc 20 Ground water
R407C
(Tc-To) COPth = Surface water
3
R600 ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K R600pump 15
heat Air
R718(H
2,50 2O) NH3
2 P Reach

Heat source temperature oC

3
10
Tc and To 100
are the condensation and evaporation tem- 2‘
Qo/m3 kJ/m3

peratures respectively. 2,00 Expressed in enthalpy: 5

4 1 0
10
Q0 P
5. The efficiency
10 of the 100
heat pump1.000
itself
1,50naturally has (h2-h3)
log p

-5
the greatest influence. That is reason enough to
Tcrit-Tc COPthheat pump=Q c

Enthalpy h
devote the rest of this article to it. 1,00 (h2-h1)
-10
Figure 8 40 50 60 70 80 90 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
tc Figure 2
3,00 Temperature outside oC
20
There are various technical models of heat pumps. The
COP and Qc increase by use
Ground water R134A
R407C
(Source; VDI-2067)
Surface water
most advanced technical
ZWW anddTov=15K
(rend.=0,6) to=0'C commercial designs are the For
15 the
Air condition to=0 C superheating=15K
15
o
R600 Figure 9 Figure 3 and tc=55oC
2,50 NH3
compression and absorption heat pumps. The compres- the efficiencies for a number of known industrial refrig-
Reach 70
Heat source temperature oC

10 10
sion heat pumps have a COP many times5 higher than erants turn out like this: 60
5
that of the2,00absorption versions. The presence of sufficient * COPth kJ/m NKP t25 50 t50
3
tcrit ODP GWP
Catchment temperature oC

0
waste heat of high level definitely makes the use 45,00of 60,00 75,00
0
R507 3.95 3553 -47.3 54.1 68 72.8 0 3900
-5
absorption 1,50
pumps attractive. This article is about COP as -5
40
-10 R404A 4.01 3506 -46.7 55.1 69.4 72 0 3800
a sales argument, so we will examine the compression R407C with ZWW rend=0,6 30
-15
heat pump as highest achievable in more detail.
1,00 R410A
-10
R717 2-stage without ZWW 4.17 5150 -51.7 42.9 67.4 69.6 0 2000
COP in %

40 50 R600 with ZWW rend=0,6

60 70 80 90 20 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
-20
tc R717 without ZWW with R407C 4.45
Temperature outside3410
C -43.9 57.1 o 82.9 86 0 1700
-25 heat supply on TD
If we look at the theoretical process, see graph tc 'C
4, we see R134A
(Source; VDI-2067)
4.6 2265 -26.2 79.3
10
98.6 101 0 1300
-10 0 10 20
that: Figure157 Figure 9 Figure 3
70R22 4.62 3677 -40.9 63.1 93.4 96
Temperature outside o0.05
C 1700
• from 1 to 10 2 the isentropic compression P,
• from 2T to5 3 the isobar and partially isothermal heat 60
R717 4.82 4241 -33.5 59.6 89.7 132.3 0 0
Bin

emission in the condenser Qc, R600 4.89 898 -0.5 129.1 148.7 152 0 20
Catchment temperature oC

0 50
• from 3 to -5
4 the45,00
isenthalpic
60,00 throttling,
75,00 * Calculated with ASEREP32
40
• From 4 -10 to 1 the isobar and T partially isothermal heat Bout kJ/m3 condenser capacity per m3 displaced swept volume
absorption
-15
Qo,R407Ctakes place.
with ZWW rend=0,6 30
NKP boiling point at atmospheric pressure
R717 2-stage without
dT ZWW
The ratio of the theoretical condenser heat divided by
COP in %

dT overheating out
R600 with ZWW rend=0,6 20
-20 t25, t50 condensation temperature at 25 and 50 bar operating pressure
the theoretical work of compression
R717 without ZWWTwith
heat supply on TD
is the theoretical 0
respectively
-25 10
COP of the heat tc 'C pump: 20 refrigerant.
tcrit
-10 0
critical 10
temperature of the
Temperature outside oC
Figure 4 P

1 2 The distance from the working point to the critical

Qo Qc temperature influences the COP significantly, see graph
5, as well as the volumetric condenser capacity, see
3 graph 6.

Figure 4

2
2
 Figure 1
Figure 5 9 1 2
Figure 1 Figure 7
5,5 Qo Heat source -5/300C Qc
9 R507/404A
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A 8 Heat supply 45/950C
Heat source -5/30 C0

8 TBin R407C
Heat supply 45/950C 5,0 R134A 7 3
R22
7 R717 6

COP Carnot +/-5%

R600
4,5 Figure 4
6 TBout 5
COP Carnot +/-5%

5
4,0 dToverheating dTout 4
2
4 T0 Tc
3
3

COP
40 50 60 70 80 2‘
90
3 3,5
20 40 60 80 100 120 Temperature difference ta-tb
40 50 60 70 80 90
Tcrit-Tc K
Temperature difference ta-tb To

Temperature
Figure 4 P 1
4
Figure 5
1 2 5,5 R507/404A
Figure 5 Figure 1Figure 6 to/tc=0/55C Figure 7 COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A
5,5 Qo Qc
R507/404A 9 10.000 R507/404A R407C
COP carnot to/tc=0/55'C R410A Entropy S
R410A Heat source -5/300C 5,0 R134A
R407C 8 R407C TBin R22
R134A Heat supply 45/95 C 3 0
R134A
5,0 R717
R22 1.000 R22 R600
7 R717(NH3) 4,5
R717
R600 R600
4,5 6 Figure 4 R718(H2O) TBout
COP Carnot +/-5%

3 2
4,0
100 2‘
Qo/m3 kJ/m3

5
4,0 dToverheating dTout

COP
4 2
Tc 3,5 T0
3
COP

2‘ 20 40 604 80 100 120

1
3,5 3 10
Tcrit-Tc K Q0 P
20 40 60 80 100 120 10 70 100 80 1.000

log p
40 50 60 90
Tcrit-Tc K Tcrit-Tc Qc
Temperature difference ta-tb T P
Temperature

o 1 Figure 4
4 Enthalpy h
by heating the suction gas. This reduces the density to/tc=0/55C Figure 6
Figure 8
The higher
Figure 6 the critical temperature, the closerFigure
to/tc=0/55C COPth 5
heat
of the suction gas, and through that the quantity of 10.000 1 2
Figure 2 R507/404A
R410A
5,5 3,00 R134A Q 20 Q
10.000
pump
comes to COPcarnot but
R507/404A
heat pump
the less condenser COP and Qc
COPEntropy increase circulating
by use
carnot Sto/tc=0/55'C refrigerant
R507/404A
R410A R407C
and therefore the capacity.
Ground water If o c
R407C
R410A Surface water R134A
capacity is supplied at equal swept R407C volume. Ammonia ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C wedTov=15K
takeR407Ca suction
R600 gas condenser (ZWW) 15 Air with an R22
R134A NH 1.000 3
R134A 5,0 2,50 Reach 3
differs from this in a very positive way! efficiency of 0.6, the COP and therefore the condensa- R717(NH3)

Heat source temperature oC

R22 R22 10 R600
1.000
R717(NH ) 3 tion heat R717
R600
increase considerably with increasing R718(H2O)
R600 2,00 5 4
What means do we now haveR718(H to crank
O) up 4,5
the efficiency condensation temperature. See 100 graph 8. The result is
Figure

Qo/m3 kJ/m3
2
3 2
further?
100 Because the condenser heat is the numerator also positive
2‘ for ammonia (+17% at0 tc=45C) but an
Qo/m3 kJ/m3

and the work of compression is the denominator 4,0 1,50 in the excessively high discharge gas temperature obstructs
-5 2
Carnot efficiency formula, the answer to this question is its practical use. 10
3
T c
COP

10 -10 100 2‘ 1.000

simple: 3,5 1,00 • 70Increasing 1
the condenser mass output Tcrit-Tc-10 by using a two-
10 4
Q 80 90P
20 4040 5060 6080 100 120 -5 0 5 10 15 0 20
- increase
10
the condenser heat and/or
100 1.000
stage compression with refrigerant injection to theC
log p

tc Temperature outside o
Tcrit-Tc Tcrit-Tc K Q c
T
- decrease the work of compression Enthalpy h interstage pressure (Source;
4 VDI-2067) 1 Temperature o
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 8 15 results in the COP 3,00 Figure 3
R134A
70
Reducing
3,00 the work of compression will decrease the condenser Figure heat, 6
10 but 20theFigure 2 to/tc=0/55C
increasing marginally COP and Qc increase by use R407C
R134A 10.000 R507/404A ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K R600
COP will COPstill increase.
increaseCheck
by use it out, on R407C
the basis of a COP of 4 for instance: Ground water
a 25% ZWW
and Qc
improvement
(rend.=0,6)in the work of compression will increase the COP5
to
Surface waterfor ammonia R410A and 2,50
Entropy
60 S NH3
to=0'C dTov=15K R600 15(4- Air R407C
decreasing R134A for the
Catchment temperature oC

0.25)/(1-0.25)=5!
2,50 NH 3
0 Reach 50
Heat source temperature oC

1.000 -5
1045,00 60,00
synthetic
75,00R22 refrigerants.
R717(NH )
2,00
40
If we use R600the interstage
3

2,00 -10 5
R718(H O)
1. Increasing the condenser heat is possible -15 by: R717
0
injection to supercool
R407C with ZWW rend=0,6
2-stage without ZWW 1,50
30
3 2
2
COP in %

a. Having the heat carrier supercool the condensation

100
the condensation, the 2‘
Qo/m3 kJ/m3

1,50 R600 with ZWW rend=0,6 20

-20
R717 without ZWW with
on the emission side. The optimum is therefore-25 achievedheat supply on TD result is negative for all
-5
1,00 10
with
1,00
an infinitely large supercooler and low 10
returntc 'C-10 refrigerants (R717 40 50
-104
60
0
70 80
1 10
90
20
tc Q P
temperature
40 50 of the
60 70 medium
80 90 to be heated. That means -10 -5
10 100
0 <10%,5
1.000
10 R134A
15 20and Temperature outside C
0 o
log p

tc Q
that a large temperature difference of the medium Tcrit-Tc to be R407C >>10%).
Temperature outside C o
c
(Source; VDI-2067) Figure 9
15 Enthalpy h
heated Figureis9 advantageous.
Figure 3 10
15 Figure 8
70 2. Reducing the work of compression
Figure 2 by:
3,00 520
Using
10 other possibilities for supercooling the condensation is an often- a. multi-stage
R134A compression does notGround
achievewater anything
COP and Qc60 increase by use R407C
made
5 error, prompted by thinking in terms of refrigeration. Consider it: the 0 Surface water
compressor keeps moving the same amount of gas; after all,
with
ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K systems
R600 with interstage injection.
15 Air
2,50the pressure50 ratio 45,00 60,00 75,00
Catchment temperature oC

NH3
0
b. Heat discharge during the compression
-5 Reach is not an
Heat source temperature oC

and suction condition60,00

45,00 do not change
75,00 (h1 stays constant). The enthalpy of the 10
-5
discharge gas does not increase either (h2 stays constant). 40 option for piston compressors;
-10
there is simply not
R407C with ZWW rend=0,6
So-10
nothing changes. 2,00 -155
enough time and surface to discharge enough
R717 2-stage withoutheat.
ZWW
COP in %

R407C with ZWW rend=0,6 30 R600 with ZWW rend=0,6

-15 R717 2-stage without ZWW With screws, the oil used for -20
the0 seals is used
R717 without ZWW aswith
COP in %

R600 with ZWW rend=0,6

b.-20increasing the discharge gas temperature by:
R717 without ZWW with refrigerant. 1,50 -25
-5
heat supply on TD 20
tc 'C
• -25letting the useful superheating in the evaporator 10
heat supply on TD c. If the return temperature of the water to be heated is
tc 'C -10
increase. This is a contradiction, as the higher the -10
1,00 0 sufficiently10 low,
20 there is an option of drawing heat
40 50 60 70 80 90 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
fromC the discharge gas for ammonia
of theTemperature outside
o
superheating at constant supply temperature tc on outside
Temperature the inter-
C o

heat source, the lower the evaporation temperature stage. This extra heat thus increases (Source;the COP.
VDI-2067)

has to be. The latter will also entail a decrease

15
Figure 9
in the Figure 3
70
COP; see graph 7. 10
• using a condenser that supercools the condensation
5
60
ent temperature oC

0 50
45,00 60,00 75,00
-5
40
-10
3 R407C with ZWW rend=0,6 30
-15 R717 2-stage without ZWW
%
 Enthalpy h

Figure 8
Figure 2
3,00 R134A 20
Ground water
COP and Qc increase by use R407C Surface water
ZWW (rend.=0,6) to=0'C dTov=15K R600 15 Air
2,50 NH3 Reach

Heat source temperature oC

10

2,00 5

0
1,50
-5

1,00 -10
40 50 60 70 80 90 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
tc Temperature outside oC
(Source; VDI-2067)
Figure 9
15 Figure 3
70
If we plot out all these 10 • with the synthetic refrigerants, a ZWW with an
effects in a graph and 5 efficiency of 0.6% (efficiency
60 of 1 means that the
compare it with R134A, suction gas comes out at the same temperature as the

Catchment temperature oC
0 50
then T0 = 0OC dTov=15K. -5
45,00 60,00 75,00 incoming condensation).
40
See graph 9. -10
• with ammonia, also heat emission on the interstage
-15
R407C with ZWW rend=0,6 pressure 30
R717 2-stage without ZWW
Conclusion
COP in %

-20
R600 with ZWW rend=0,6 • a temperature difference
20 between the evaporation
R717 without ZWW with
Refrigerants with a high -25 heat supply on TD
and source return temperatures of 3K,
10
critical temperature give tc 'C • a temperature difference
-10
in heat
0
source
10
medium
20
over
the best COP; the natural the evaporator of 5K,Temperature
so the annual
outside C average source o

refrigerants are superior in this respect. To make water temperature becomes 8oC
of 70’ C, R134A needs almost twice as much swept • 3 different condensation temperatures 45, 60 and 75oC
volume as ammonia (HP and LP) and about 1.5 times as • a temperature difference between the condensation
much as R407C. temperature and annual average emission tempera-
ture of 3K, the annual average emission temperatures
With ammonia, the high pressure cylinders will have to be able to resist a become 42, 57 and 72oC
higher pressure than the usual 25 bar(e). For R407C the same applies for
the entire discharge part. The Grasso 5-HP can resist a discharge pressure of
• temperature difference of heat emission medium 20K
50 bar(e). The highly flammable butane (R600) needs about 2.5 times more • use of low heat emission temperature for supercool-
swept volume than R134A, so 5 times that of ammonia and is therefore not ing. Temperature difference of exiting condensation
interesting commercially. and return temperature is 3K, that makes the extra
supercooling 20K
What is the current situation with efficiency The maximum heat pump full load COP's achievable
achievable in practice? then become:
As we are looking for the highest achievable COP, we tc/KM Carnot* R717 R134A R407C
will ignore the screw compressors that do not match up 45 9.27 5.52 4.66 5.02
to the piston compressors energy-wise. The energy
60 6.74 4.40 3.68 3.88
savings to be gained are apparently so high that a
colleague manufacturer devoted an entire issue of their 75 5.39 3.68 3.07 3.11
HVAC&R ENGINEERING update to it. For the sake of * at source emission
completeness we will quote the conclusion of that report
literally: "For air-conditioning or heat-pump duty, the If the cooling cannot be used effectively, the cooling
energy-cost savings of reciprocating chillers can exceed capacity is added to the condenser capacity in the
the maintenance-cost savings of screw chillers by 100 to numerator, and we get the figures below.
300%!”
tc/KM R717 R134A R407C
The density of the gas influences the compressor effi- 45 10.04 8.32 9.04
ciency greatly. A heavy gas has a positive effect on the
60 7.8 6.36 6.76
compressor cooling and results in higher isentropic
efficiency. The heavier the gas, the higher the pressure 75 6.36 5.14 5.22
losses, which keeps the swept volume down. The extent
of this influence is measured daily in the compressor These values even exceed the Carnot efficiency of the
laboratories of the various compressor manufacturers. source emission. So it is all a question of defini-
We will field-test this with a Grasso 10 compressor, tion!!!
tested with the refrigerants R717, R22, R134A, R507,
R404A and R407C. For our starting point we will take: If you would like to react to this article or one of the
• a suction saturation temperature of 0oC, previous articles, or have questions, you can contact:
• effective superheating of synthetic refrigerants of 15K Grasso Products b.v. jphabraken@grasso.nl.
(ammonia=0K)
• single-stage compression for the synthetic refrigerants
• for ammonia, 2-stage compression if the maximum
discharge gas temperature is exceeded.