The majority of today’s heat pumps are environmentally-friendly and work very well, but there is always room for improvement. For instance, by replacing conventional compression systems with micro turbo compressors, engineers can reduce the power requirements of a heat pump by 20-25%.
Turbo compressors are 10 times smaller than piston devices and are far more efficient. It is not that easy to integrate these tiny components into a heat pump’s design. Their fast rotation speeds (over 200,000 rpm), and small diameters (less than 20mm) make it very hard to incorporate them into these heat systems.
A team of researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne’s Laboratory (EPFL) for Applied Mechanical Design, come up with a method that makes it faster and easier to add these micro compressors into heat pumps. Using Symbolic Regression, machine-learning process, the team came up with simple equations that they used to calculate the optimal dimensions for a given heat pump’s turbo compressor.
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Key Takeaways
- Micro turbo compressors can reduce the power requirements of heat pumps by 20-25% and are more efficient than conventional piston devices.
- Researchers at EPFL have developed a machine-learning method to simplify the design process of integrating micro turbo compressors into heat pumps.
- Unlike standard heat pumps that use pistons and require oil, micro turbo compressors operate on gas bearings, eliminating the need for oil and enhancing the heat transfer coefficient by 20-30%.
The Design Process of Micro Turbo Compressors
Engineers have been relying on design charts to scope their turbo compressors but these charts have proven to be inaccurate when it comes to smaller equipment.
To circumvent this, two PhD students at EPFL worked on coming up with an alternative. The students fed the results of five hundred thousand simulations into machine learning algorithms and came up with equations that imitate the charts but with extra benefits:
- they are as detailed as more complex simulations
- they are about 1,500-times faster
- they are dependable even at small turbo compressor sizes
Their method also allows engineers to skip some conventional design processes steps. This new way of sizing turbo compressors is paving the way for easier implementation and more extensive use of micro turbochargers in modern heat pumps.
The artificial intelligence method used by EPFL researchers simplifies the first step of designing a turbocharger. This step, which generally involves doing rough calculations of the ideal rotation speed and size of micro turbo compressors for a specific heat pump, is especially crucial since a good initial estimate will significantly shorten the design process.
How Do Micro Turbo Compressors Work and What Are the Benefits?
Standard heat pumps use pistons to drive a vapour compression cycle and to compress a fluid known as a refrigerant. For pistons to function properly, they need to be well oiled; however, the lubricant can sometimes stick to the walls of the heat exchanger, impairing heat transfer.
But that is not the case with micro turbo compressors. These tiny compressors, whose diameters are just a few millimetres wide, rotate on gas bearings at speeds in the hundreds of thousands per minute, which means they don’t need oil to run.
Since the only thing between the components and the rotating movement is a layer of gas, there’s almost zero friction within the working mechanism of the heat pump – which is why micro turbo compressors are capable of boosting a heat pump’s heat transfer coefficient by 20-30% per cent.
The technology behind micro turbo chargers has been under development for a couple of years now but has now certainly come of age. Several heat pump brands are interested in this latest method as heat pump companies will now have an easier time integrating micro turbo charger technology into future heat pumps.
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Conclusion
The advent of micro turbo compressors offers a promising direction in the quest for more efficient and environmentally friendly heating solutions. With their ability to significantly reduce power requirements and enhance heat transfer coefficients, they stand out as a superior alternative to conventional piston devices. The groundbreaking research from EPFL underscores these tiny compressors’ potential and provides a streamlined approach to their integration in heat pumps. As technology continues to evolve, it’s evident that the future of heat pumps will be heavily influenced by the advancements in micro turbo compressor technology, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient heating solutions.
About the Author
At Heat Pump Source, our articles are the product of a collaborative effort among a team of highly skilled HVAC experts. Our dedicated professionals, hailing from diverse backgrounds in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, contribute their extensive knowledge and experience to every piece of content. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive coverage. Our commitment is to deliver authoritative, reliable, and tailored advice to meet the unique needs of every household and business across the UK.