Thursday, June 18, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Technical Session

Session Chairs:
Marco Astolfi,
Ettore Morosini,

Presentations

Note: Presentations may start a few minutes before the time listed in the schedule.

Session 30-07 Heat Pumps addresses the thermodynamic analysis, component-level design, and system integration of transcritical and supercritical CO₂ heat pump cycles for high-efficiency thermal management applications. The contributions examine cycle optimization under varying boundary conditions, with emphasis on gas cooler performance, compressor operation, and expansion device strategies in transcritical regimes.

Key topics include off-design behavior and control methodologies for maintaining coefficient of performance (COP) across a wide range of heat source and sink temperatures, as well as the influence of system architecture (e.g., parallel compression, ejector-based expansion, and internal heat exchangers) on cycle efficiency. Experimental and numerical studies highlight heat transfer characteristics, pressure losses, and refrigerant-side dynamics in compact heat exchangers operating near the critical point.

The session also explores application-driven design, including high-temperature industrial heat pumps and waste heat recovery, where CO₂ systems offer advantages in terms of temperature lift and environmental compatibility. Overall, the session provides a detailed engineering perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with deploying CO₂-based heat pump technologies in demanding thermal systems.