Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler
This study investigates the heating performance of an integrated air-source heat pump (ASHP) with a thermoelectric subcooler (TES) module, revealing significant performance enhancements, particularly in colder temperatures. Results show that adding the portable TES boosts the ASHP's heating cap...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008020 |
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| author | Yifeng Hu Bo Shen Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy Don Shirey |
| author_facet | Yifeng Hu Bo Shen Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy Don Shirey |
| author_sort | Yifeng Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the heating performance of an integrated air-source heat pump (ASHP) with a thermoelectric subcooler (TES) module, revealing significant performance enhancements, particularly in colder temperatures. Results show that adding the portable TES boosts the ASHP's heating capacity, making it feasible for residential applications. The coefficient of performance (COP) for the TE system, which is influenced by condensing temperatures and ambient conditions, ranges from 1.51 to 2.07. If condensing temperatures are consistently maintained above 35 °C, a TE COP of approximately 2.07 is achievable, supporting system downsizing and reducing supplemental heating. When coupled with an oversized indoor coil, the TES-ASHP system delivers comparable heating to a baseline unit while achieving a 10 % higher COP. Capacity increases by 8.7 %–24 % with TES in colder conditions, though COP declines by 9 %–18 %, diminishing as temperatures drop. Compared to systems with supplemental heating, this setup achieves a COP 10 %–17 % higher. Future work will involve extended field testing in various climates, exploration of advanced materials for thermal efficiency, and assessment of alternative refrigerants to improve performance and sustainability. This integrated ASHP-TES system holds promise for increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact in cold climates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4dc9a93da9f44ae486eb66cdb663b6ec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2214-157X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Thermal Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-4dc9a93da9f44ae486eb66cdb663b6ec2025-08-20T03:30:02ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310654210.1016/j.csite.2025.106542Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcoolerYifeng Hu0Bo Shen1Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy2Don Shirey3Building Technologies Research and Integration Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USABuilding Technologies Research and Integration Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA; Corresponding author.Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USAElectric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USAThis study investigates the heating performance of an integrated air-source heat pump (ASHP) with a thermoelectric subcooler (TES) module, revealing significant performance enhancements, particularly in colder temperatures. Results show that adding the portable TES boosts the ASHP's heating capacity, making it feasible for residential applications. The coefficient of performance (COP) for the TE system, which is influenced by condensing temperatures and ambient conditions, ranges from 1.51 to 2.07. If condensing temperatures are consistently maintained above 35 °C, a TE COP of approximately 2.07 is achievable, supporting system downsizing and reducing supplemental heating. When coupled with an oversized indoor coil, the TES-ASHP system delivers comparable heating to a baseline unit while achieving a 10 % higher COP. Capacity increases by 8.7 %–24 % with TES in colder conditions, though COP declines by 9 %–18 %, diminishing as temperatures drop. Compared to systems with supplemental heating, this setup achieves a COP 10 %–17 % higher. Future work will involve extended field testing in various climates, exploration of advanced materials for thermal efficiency, and assessment of alternative refrigerants to improve performance and sustainability. This integrated ASHP-TES system holds promise for increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact in cold climates.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008020Cold climate heat pumpAir source heat pumpThermoelectric subcoolerHeating capacityCOP |
| spellingShingle | Yifeng Hu Bo Shen Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy Don Shirey Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Cold climate heat pump Air source heat pump Thermoelectric subcooler Heating capacity COP |
| title | Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| title_full | Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| title_fullStr | Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| title_short | Heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| title_sort | heating performance of an air source heat pump with a portable thermoelectric subcooler |
| topic | Cold climate heat pump Air source heat pump Thermoelectric subcooler Heating capacity COP |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25008020 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yifenghu heatingperformanceofanairsourceheatpumpwithaportablethermoelectricsubcooler AT boshen heatingperformanceofanairsourceheatpumpwithaportablethermoelectricsubcooler AT sreenidhikrishnamoorthy heatingperformanceofanairsourceheatpumpwithaportablethermoelectricsubcooler AT donshirey heatingperformanceofanairsourceheatpumpwithaportablethermoelectricsubcooler |