modelCarnot_y

Chiller with performance curve adjusted based on Carnot efficiency

Extends from BuildingSystems.Fluid.Chillers.BaseClasses.PartialCarnot_y.

Information

This is a model of a chiller whose coefficient of performance COP changes with temperatures in the same way as the Carnot efficiency changes. The input signal y is the control signal for the compressor.

Set use_eta_Carnot_nominal=true to specify directly the Carnot effectiveness ηCarnot,0, in which case the value of the parameter COP_nominal will not affect the simulation. If use_eta_Carnot_nominal=false, the model will use the value of the parameter COP_nominal together with the specified nominal temperatures to compute the Carnot effectiveness as

ηCarnot,0 = COP0 ⁄ (Teva,0 ⁄ (Tcon,0 + Tapp,con,0 - (Teva,0-Tapp,eva,0))),

where Teva,0 is the evaporator temperature, Tcon,0 is the condenser temperature, Tapp,eva,0 is the evaporator approach temperature and Tapp,con,0 is the condenser approach temperature.

The COP is computed as the product

COP = ηCarnot,0 COPCarnot ηPL,

where COPCarnot is the Carnot efficiency and ηPL is the part load efficiency, expressed using a polynomial. This polynomial has the form

ηPL = a1 + a2 y + a3 y2 + ...,

where y ∈ [0, 1] is the part load for cooling and the coefficients ai are declared by the parameter a.

On the Dynamics tag, the model can be parametrized to compute a transient or steady-state response. The transient response of the model is computed using a first order differential equation for the evaporator and condenser fluid volumes. The chiller outlet temperatures are equal to the temperatures of these lumped volumes.

Typical use and important parameters

When using this component, make sure that the evaporator and the condenser have sufficient mass flow rate. Based on the mass flow rates, the compressor power, temperature difference and the efficiencies, the model computes how much heat will be added to the condenser and removed at the evaporator. If the mass flow rates are too small, very high temperature differences can result.

The evaporator heat flow rate QEva_flow_nominal is used to assign the default value for the mass flow rates, which are used for the pressure drop calculations. It is also used to compute the part load efficiency. Hence, make sure that QEva_flow_nominal is set to a reasonable value.

The maximum cooling capacity is set by the parameter QEva_flow_min, which is by default set to negative infinity.

The coefficient of performance depends on the evaporator and condenser leaving temperature since otherwise the second law of thermodynamics may be violated.

Notes

For a similar model that can be used as a heat pump, see BuildingSystems.Fluid.HeatPumps.Carnot_y.

Revisions

  • February 3, 2023, by Michael Wetter:
    Changed in base class the parameter binding etaCarnot_nominal(unit="1") = COP_nominal/(TUseAct_nominal/(TCon_nominal+TAppCon_nominal - (TEva_nominal-TAppEva_nominal))) to etaCarnot_nominal(unit="1") = 0.3 to avoid a circular assignment.
    Improved documentation.
    This is for Buildings, #3226.
  • January 2, 2017, by Filip Jorissen:
    Removed parameters effInpEva and effInpCon and updated documentation. This is for issue 497.
  • August 8, 2016, by Michael Wetter:
    Changed default temperature to compute COP to be the leaving temperature as use of the entering temperature can violate the 2nd law if the temperature lift is small.
    This is for Annex 60, issue 497.
  • January 26, 2016, by Michael Wetter:
    Refactored model to use the same base class as BuildingSystems.Fluid.HeatPumps.Carnot_y.
    Changed part load efficiency to depend on cooling part load ratio rather than on the compressor part load ratio.
    Changed sign convention of dTEva_nominal to be negative rather than positive. For positive values, the simulation will stop with an assertion.
  • December 18, 2015, by Michael Wetter:
    Corrected wrong computation of staB1 and staB2 which mistakenly used the inStream operator for the configuration without flow reversal. This is for issue 476.
  • November 25, 2015 by Michael Wetter:
    Changed sign convention for dTEva_nominal to be consistent with other models. The model will still work with the old values for dTEva_nominal, but it will write a warning so that users can transition their models.
    Corrected assert statement for the efficiency curve. This is for issue 468.
  • September 3, 2015 by Michael Wetter:
    Expanded documentation.
  • May 6, 2015 by Michael Wetter:
    Added prescribedHeatFlowRate=true for vol2.
  • October 9, 2013 by Michael Wetter:
    Reimplemented the computation of the port states to avoid using the conditionally removed variables sta_a1, sta_a2, sta_b1 and sta_b2.
  • May 10, 2013 by Michael Wetter:
    Added electric power P as an output signal.
  • October 11, 2010 by Michael Wetter:
    Fixed bug in energy balance.
  • March 3, 2009 by Michael Wetter:
    First implementation.