Effect of pipes in heat pump system on electric vehicle energy saving

ABSTRACT

Refrigerant pressure drop and temperature change in pipes are normally ignored in the thermodynamic analysis of traditional vehicle air conditioning system, this will result in serious errors. In this Paper, pressure drop and temperature difference are simulated in different pipes of electric vehicle (EV) heat pump system to analysis the effects of pipes in the actual EV heat pump system. The results indicate that the greater the mass flow, the faster pressure drop increases, the temperature difference decreases. Pressure drop of saturated liquid refrigerant is smaller than that of saturated gas refrigerant at the same saturation pressure and mass flow rate. The higher the refrigerant pressure (no phase change), the slower pressure drop decreases, the faster the temperature difference decreases. Pressure drop decreases with the increment of bending angle of the pipe. For EV heat pump system, suitable valves and less branches are helpful for energy saving of the system. Shortening the pipe between compressor and condenser can reduce temperature change obviously. Pressure drop per unit length in the pipe between evaporator and compressor is large especially in heating mode because of lower refrigerant density. It even reaches to over 100 times of that in the pipe between condenser and throttle valve in heating mode and has negative effects on the performance of the system. If the evaporator is closer to the compressor and the number of branches is less, then pressure drop will decrease a lot, which will be advantageous for energy saving of the heat pump system.