Heat Pump Development

We have specific design capabilities for the development of absorption cycle heat pumps. The key technical issues affecting the optimization of the absorber/desorber, pump and other components are addressed before integrating them into a prototype design. ABSIM, an absorption cycle system simulator, permits a computer analysis of system variables versus the coefficient of performance (COP) and weight of the heat pump. While several heat-actuated heat pump cycles have been considered, our focus is on a single-effect lithium bromide and water absorption heat pump. Our initial application is the development of a mesoscopic heat-actuated heat pump for cooling soldiers under field conditions.

Heat pump layout designs are generated while thermal and fluid analysis of the system and fabrication methods are reviewed. The key design issues include fabrication, selection of materials, component design, component integration, arrangement of components relative to each another and to the heat rejection system, sealing, heat pump charging and purging, insulation and component attachment methods.