Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Direct Expansion Solar Assisted Heat Pump for Humid and Tropical Climates

Abstract

A direct expansion solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) is a heating water technology that convey a conventional solar heating system with a heat pump. This technology with great potential should overcome economics aspects to be available commercially soon. An exergoeconomic analysis of a DX-SAHP has been performed for three collector configurations and three compressor displacement capacity under the meteorological condition of Portoviejo city in Ecuador, a location with a tropical and humid climate. The present work is aimed to study the relationship between exergoeconomic data under various operations conditions. In addition, the exergy destruction, exergetic efficiency, cost rate per exergy unit product and fuel, cost rate associated to exergy destruction, exergoeconomic factor for each component of a DX-SAHP are evaluated. The exergoeconomic factor is found lowest for the solar collector for all the configurations, with estimated values of 5 to 21%. The component that needs more improvement for a tropical and humid climate is the solar collector based on exergoeconomic factor. On the basis of the present study, it can be concluded that a solar collector area of 1,5 m2 and a rotational displacement capacity of 1350 rpm performs better in all respects.