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Functional surface coatings for energy efficient heat pumps

This project concerns the frost formation problem on air-source heat pumps (ASHP), which is a common issue in colder climates such as Sweden.

Funded by:Energimyndigheten / Swedish Energy Agency
Time period: 2020 - ongoing
Project partners: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Background

This project concerns the frost formation problem on air-source heat pumps (ASHP), which is a common issue in colder climates such as Sweden. The frost build-up on the evaporator of the ASHP has detrimental effects on the heat transfer and energy efficiency of the heat pump. Defrosting of heat pumps also causes indoor thermal comfort issues for the inhabitants of the building that the heat pump services. Is a solution to this frost problem perhaps a special surface coating for the evaporator? Such a surface coating should prolong the time that the heat pump can stay in heating mode as well as allow for a smoother defrosting of the heat pump. Finding a suitable surface coating that fulfils these criteria as well as combats the problems mentioned previously is the main focus of this project.

Aim and objectives

Further develop and perform screening on surface coatings that delays the frost formation as well as enables “smoother” defrosting process for heat exchangers for industrial heat pumps.

Outcomes

The project just started

Publications

No publications yet

Project contact persons:

Emma Nyholm Humire, PhD student, in charge of experimental studies.

Alternative secondary fluids
Functional surface coatings for energy efficient heat pumps