EUDP 2016 Mixed refrigerant heat pumps/cooling systems (MIREHP)

If an appropriate temperature match is obtained between a zeotrope refrigerant and a brine together with a sufficient heat exchange area, a considerable COP enhancement can be obtained by exploiting the temperature glide effect.
The hybrid process is relatively new and is characterized by always operating with the same mixture ratio through the evaporator and the condenser, which results in a uniform temperature glide of the refrigerant in both the evaporator and the condenser.
This project will focus on controlling the glide of the “hybrid heat pump” so the temperature curve in both the evaporator and condenser are fitted individually to the temperature differences of the heat source and heat sink.
The project will aim to develop knowledge in the area, find the best suitable zeotropic mixtures, as well as build a pilot setup for conducting functional analysis in order to validate the theoretical foundation and gain experience regarding an optimal setup configuration and control. 
Calculations show that the initial investment for the equipment using the technology developed in this project could be up to 55 % higher than existing competing heat pumps. However, the calculations show that the extra initial investment cost will be paid back within 2 years.