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Open Access Issue
Performance of Coupled High-Temperature Heat Pump with Steam Supply Through Long-Distance Hot-Water Pipeline
Journal of Refrigeration 2026, 47(4): 36-44
Published: 16 August 2026
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Objective

Combined heat and power centralized heating can supply steam to surrounding industrial enterprises by using the steam from turbine, which is an efficient way of steam supply. However, as the supply distance increases, the temperature drop and pressure loss of the steam become severe. This study aims to propose a new absorption-compression coupled high-temperature heat pump cycle system, which uses the existing combined heat and power pipeline network to transport hot water and generates steam at the user site, effectively expanding the coverage of combined heat and power steam supply. In this paper, a thermodynamic simulation model of the heat pump system is established, and the influences of the supply water temperature of the primary network, the temperature of the micro-pressure steam, and the steam supply temperature on the performance of the heat pump are analyzed in detail.

Methods

This study combines the absorption heat exchanger with the vapor compression heat pump, and proposes an absorption-compression coupled high-temperature heat pump cycle system. This paper uses theoretical simulation methods to analyze the influence of key parameters on the performance of the heat pump system. Based on the principles of energy conservation and mass conservation, the thermodynamic steady-state model of the system is established, and the thermodynamic equations are solved using the engineering equation solver (EES) software. Through parameter sensitivity analysis, the effects of the supply water temperature of the primary network, the micro-pressure steam temperature, and the steam supply temperature on the system performance are studied.

Results and Discussions

The higher the supply temperature of the primary network, the greater the capacity of the absorption heat exchanger to increase the temperature, the larger the COP of the coupled system, and the lower the unit steam consumption. When the supply water temperature is 120 ℃ and the steam generated is 180 ℃, the temperature rise coefficient of the absorption heat exchanger is 0.37. The coupled system COP is 2.56, and the unit steam consumption is 292.5 kW∙h/(t/h). Compared with the case where the supply water temperature is 95 ℃, the COP increases by 2.7%, and the unit steam consumption decreases by 2.5%. As the temperature of the micro-pressure steam increases from 75 ℃ to 100 ℃, the COP of the coupled system first increases and then decreases, and the unit steam consumption first decreases and then increases. When the temperature of the micro-pressure steam is 80 ℃, the COP of the coupled system is the maximum value of 2.6, and the unit steam consumption is the minimum value of 285.3 kW∙h/(t/h). As the steam supply temperature increases, the COP of the coupled system monotonically decreases, and the unit steam consumption monotonically increases. When the steam supply temperature increases from 100 ℃ to 200 ℃, the COP of the coupled system decreases from 4.3 to 2.3, and the unit steam consumption increases from 166.2 kW∙h/(t/h) to 316.0 kW∙h/(t/h).

Conclusions

The absorption-compression coupled high-temperature heat pump system proposed in this paper provides an effective solution for long-distance hot water supply to steam. The supply water temperature of the primary network, the micro-pressure steam temperature, and the steam supply temperature are the key factors affecting the system performance. This system offers a feasible approach for expanding the steam supply range of combined heat and power and improving the comprehensive energy utilization rate.

Editorial Issue
Editorial
Building Simulation 2011, 4(2): 87
Published: 04 December 2011
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Erratum Issue
Erratum to: Investigating a safe ventilation rate for the prevention of indoor SARS transmission: An attempt based on a simulation approach
Building Simulation 2010, 3(2): 179
Published: 22 December 2009
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Research Article Issue
Investigating a safe ventilation rate for the prevention of indoor SARS transmission: An attempt based on a simulation approach
Building Simulation 2009, 2(4): 281-289
Published: 04 December 2009
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This paper identifies the "safe ventilation rate" for eliminating airborne viral infection and preventing cross-infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a hospital-based setting. We used simulation approaches to reproduce three actual cases where groups of hospital occupants reported to be either infected or not infected when SARS patients were hospitalized in nearby rooms. Simulations using both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and multi-zone models were carried out to understand the dilution level of SARS virus-laden aerosols during these scenarios. We also conducted a series of measurements to validate the simulations. The ventilation rates (dilution level) for infection and non-infection were determined based on these scenarios. The safe ventilation rate for eliminating airborne viral infection is to dilute the air emitted from a SARS patient by 10000 times with clean air. Dilution at lower volumes, specifically 1000 times, is insufficient for protecting non-infected people from SARS exposure and the risk of infection is very high. This study provides a methodology for investigating the necessary ventilation rate from an engineering viewpoint.

Research Article Issue
Simulation and Experimental Analysis of a Fresh Air-Handling Unit with Liquid Desiccant Sensible and Latent Heat Recovery
Building Simulation 2008, 1(1): 53-63
Published: 01 March 2008
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This article introduces a liquid desiccant fresh air processor. Its driving force is low-grade heat (heat obtained from 65-75℃ hot water). Inside the processor, the air is dehumidified by the evaporative cooling energy of the indoor exhaust air. A four-stage structure is used to increase the efficiency of the combined sensible and latent heat recovery from the exhaust air. A mathematical model of the fresh air processor was set up using Simulink®. A liquid desiccant fresh air processor was constructed and tested for outside air conditions of 29.1-33.6℃, 13.7-16.7g/kg humidity ratio, and supply air conditions of 23.6-24.2℃, 7.4-8.6g/kg humidity ratio. The average measured COPf was 1.6 (cold production divided by latent heat removed) for the range of conditions tested. The corresponding average COPsys of the system including the regenerator was 1.3 (cold production divided by heat input). The detailed operating parameters of each part of the test unit were also measured. The test data was compared with the simulated performance. The characteristic coefficients (such as the volumetric mass transfer coefficient of the air-water evaporative cooling module, etc.) in the mathematical model were modified to calibrate the model output to the measured data. The calibrated simulation model was used to investigate the control strategy of the fresh air processor. The flow rate of the strong solution into the unit and the number of operation stages may be controlled separately or together to meet different indoor air requirements at different outdoor conditions. The hot water driven liquid desiccant air conditioning system was compared with a typical vapor compression system with an average COP of 4.5; the pump and fan power of the proposed system was 40% of the combined chiller, pump, and fan consumption. We achieved savings of over 30% of the power consumption compared with the traditional system under the designed outdoor air conditions.

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