Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Project tasks: Simulation and Fluid Selection

Description

This lecture covers the project tasks related to the heating system of EPFL, including simulation, measurements, reconciliation, and fluid selection for the 2-stage heat pump. The lecture emphasizes the development of thermodynamic models, data collection, performance analysis, and the selection of a working fluid based on thermodynamic and economic indicators.

Official source

Related concepts (22)

Working fluid

For fluid power, a working fluid is a gas or liquid that primarily transfers force, motion, or mechanical energy. In hydraulics, water or hydraulic fluid transfers force between hydraulic components such as hydraulic pumps, hydraulic cylinders, and hydraulic motors that are assembled into hydraulic machinery, hydraulic drive systems, etc. In pneumatics, the working fluid is air or another gas which transfers force between pneumatic components such as compressors, vacuum pumps, pneumatic cylinders, and pneumatic motors.

Heat pump

A heat pump is a device that uses work to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space by transferring thermal energy using a refrigeration cycle, cooling the cool space and warming the warm space. In cold weather a heat pump can move heat from the cool outdoors to warm a house; the pump may also be designed to move heat from the house to the warmer outdoors in warm weather. As they transfer heat rather than generating heat, they are more energy-efficient than other ways of heating a home.

Working fluid selection

Heat engines, refrigeration cycles and heat pumps usually involve a fluid to and from which heat is transferred while undergoing a thermodynamic cycle. This fluid is called the working fluid. Refrigeration and heat pump technologies often refer to working fluids as refrigerants. Most thermodynamic cycles make use of the latent heat (advantages of phase change) of the working fluid. In case of other cycles the working fluid remains in gaseous phase while undergoing all the processes of the cycle.

Ground source heat pump

A ground source heat pump (also geothermal heat pump) is a heating/cooling system for buildings that uses a type of heat pump to transfer heat to or from the ground, taking advantage of the relative constancy of temperatures of the earth through the seasons. Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) – or geothermal heat pumps (GHP) as they are commonly termed in North America – are among the most energy-efficient technologies for providing HVAC and water heating, using far less energy than can be achieved by burning a fuel in a boiler/furnace or by use of resistive electric heaters.

Thermodynamic process

Classical thermodynamics considers three main kinds of thermodynamic process: (1) changes in a system, (2) cycles in a system, and (3) flow processes. (1)A Thermodynamic process is a process in which the thermodynamic state of a system is changed. A change in a system is defined by a passage from an initial to a final state of thermodynamic equilibrium. In classical thermodynamics, the actual course of the process is not the primary concern, and often is ignored.

Related lectures (29)

Heat Transfer Analysis in Process Units

Explores heat transfer analysis in process units, emphasizing the importance of balancing mass and energy for optimizing energy efficiency.

Thermodynamic Identities

Explores thermodynamic identities, entropy changes, and thermal machine efficiencies, including Carnot and Otto cycles, heat pumps, and heating methods.

Thermodynamic Heat Pump Cycles MOOC: Thermodynamics I

Explores thermodynamic heat pump cycles, practical considerations, refrigerants, and real vs. ideal cycles.

Heat Pump Reconciliation

Covers the reconciliation of a heat pump system, including simulation and data analysis.

Thermodynamic Equations: Constitutive Equations and Properties Calculation