Performance analysis of double-stage heat pump and refrigeration cycles

Multistage refrigeration systems are investigated to/enhance the performance of vapor compression refrigeration cycles based on our previous work on multistage low-grade thermal energy conversion. A double-stage heat pump and refrigeration cycles (D-S) is expected to reduce the irreversible loss in the heat exchange process. However, certain characteristics of independently configured systems, namely, compressor power and coefficients of performance (COPs), have not been sufficiently clarified. This study aims to elucidate highly advanced heat pump and refrigeration systems by comparing D-S, a basic single-stage heat pump and refrigeration cycles, and a two-stage compression cycle. D-S shows higher COPs for both the refrigeration and heat pump cycles compared with the other cycles, especially at high thermal conductances. The reduction of the irreversible loss in the heat exchange process is confirmed via the entropy generation rate; in particular, the COP increases with a decrease in the entropy generation rate. The evaporation and condensation temperatures of the refrigerant approach the temperature of the heat source when the thermal conductance exceeds 150 kW/K for the refrigeration cycle. The heat exchangers exergy destruction of D-S is 169 kW, S-S is 189 kW, the two-stage cycle is 184 kW/K when the thermal conductance is 100 kW/K.