Virtual design on the heat pump refrigeration cycle: challenges and approaches

• Published in: International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 8 - 17
• Main Authors: Hwang, Yoon Jei, Park, Noma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 19.04.2024; Springer Nature B.V; Springer; 대한설비공학회
• Subjects: 1D/3D co-simulation; Collaboration; Construction; Control algorithms; Dynamic simulation; Energy consumption; Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Heat pump cycle; Heat pumps; HVAC; Model-based design (MBD); Model-based systems; Neural networks; Object-oriented languages; Optimization techniques; Partial differential equations; Physics; Product design; Product development; Programming languages; R&D; Refrigerants; Refrigeration; Research & development; Simulation; Simulation models; Software; Systems engineering; Thermodynamics; Variable refrigerant flow (VRF); Virtual product design (VPD); Weather; 기계공학; Model-based design (MBD); Dynamic simulation; Variable refrigerant flow (VRF); Heat pump cycle; Virtual product design (VPD); 1D/3D co-simulation
• ISSN: 2010-1333; 2010-1325; 2010-1333
• DOI: 10.1007/s44189-024-00052-0

Virtual product design (VPD) of the refrigeration cycle has long been a major subject of many engineers and manufacturers. Issues should be the question of how simulation gets close to the real world in virtual ways. It is especially true when we consider variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pumps, having various types of indoor unit combinations, long and complicated piping configurations, and simultaneous cooling and heating functions under extreme weather conditions. In this regard, model-based systems engineering (MBSE) or model-based design (MBD) guides a methodology to make a virtual model easily. Now, there are plenty of engineering platforms and tools to make a strong simulation model, which provides interfacing technology among multiple physics, different dimensions, and codes in different languages. In the study, the authors share their experience in the virtual design for a VRF heat pump system including the architecture, multiple physics, and the connection with the control SW. Modelica, an acausal and object-oriented modeling language, constructs the backbone of the model to describe the dynamic behavior of refrigerants and to combine external components in the form of functional mock-up units (FMUs). The developed virtual model is validated against measured data, showing it can reproduce all the essential physics of interest both in qualitative and quantitative ways.