During a substantial portion of the heating season in temperate climate regions, where most heat pumps are installed, frost will build up on a conventional heat pumps outdoor heat exchanger coil (when the ambient temperature is below about 40°F). Shortly after this frost accumulation begins, the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger coil and of the air supplied by it to heat the indoor space starts to decrease. When temperature, time, or demand controls mandate defrosting of the coil, a four-way valve temporarily reverses the heat pump cycle. During the reverse-cycle defrost period, heat is taken from inside the house (from air blown across the indoor coil) and is pumped outside to raise the temperature of the outdoor coil sufficiently to melt the accumulated frost. In an attempt to compensate for this heat loss and to temper the resulting decrease in the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor space, conventional systems must energize supplemental resistance-heating elements. However, even with substantial power flowing through the heating elements, the indoor air temperature is temporarily lowered resulting in what is commonly called "cold blow," a major concern of heat pump manufacturers and consumers. The term "cold blow" in heat pumps means the indoor supply air temperature by the heat pump is usually lower than our skin temperature which gives us a "cold blow" feeling.
The characteristics of the defrosting cycle just described (a) reduces occupant thermal comfort because of the cold blow effect and (b) decreases system reliability because of the periodic cycle-reversing stresses imposed on components such as the four-way valve, the compressor, and the resistance-heating elements.
The Frostless Heat Pump addresses, in a
cost-effective manner, all the concerns outlined above by
drastically reducing the frequency of defrost cycling (by a
factor of 5 in the Knoxville, Tennessee area) and by eliminating
cold blow. The key innovation is the addition of heat to the
accumulator, which increases the temperature of the refrigerant
entering the outdoor coil. The innovation is based on the
principle that adding heat internally into a Rankine cycle can
shift the heat absorption and rejection temperatures upwards.
Tests have shown that the addition of moderate amounts of heat
dramatically retards frost formation over a substantial range of
outdoor ambient conditions where frost is likely to form. Most of
the heat added to the accumulator is delivered to the indoor
coil, providing increased heating capacity and improved thermal
comfort in the form of higher air temperatures entering the
indoor space.
Because of its increased heating capacity, the Frostless Heat Pump is likely to meet the heating demand of a house sooner and therefore cycle off sooner, before the outdoor coil requires defrosting. If the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than about 30°F, adding a moderate amount of heat to the accumulator may not retard frost formation sufficiently to avoid cycle reversing. However, when the Frostless Heat Pump does require cycle reversing, the indoor fan is shut off, thus avoiding "cold blow" draft and heat removal from the conditioned space. Heat to defrost the outdoor coil is taken from the heat provided to the accumulator.
In summary, in comparison with conventional heat pumps, the Frostless Heat Pump increases occupant thermal comfort, increases system reliability, and reduces power surges.
For further information about the Frostless Heat Pump, please contact:
Vince Mei (865) 576-4945; vcm@ornl.gov or Ron Domitrovic (865) 974-8429 domitrovicre@ornl.gov