Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
Partners:
-- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Richland, WA
-- A. O. Smith – Milwaukee, WI
DOE Total Funding: $357,975
Project Term: October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020
Funding Type: Lab Award
Project Objective
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is currently developing a max tech heat pump water heater (HPWH) by determining an optimal sizing and selection of components to maximize equipment efficiency and evaluating the use of low global warming potential (GWP), A2L1 refrigerants.
While laboratory testing units under standard test procedures is an important aspect to product development, it does not ensure products that will satisfy consumer expectations. To validate the performance of the max tech HPWH, the system will be tested by both ORNL and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in their respective lab homes in addition to field testing in up to three occupied homes. This approach provides varied operating environments and use profiles that are critical for evaluating HPWH performance. Performance of the max tech HPWH will be compared to data collected on baseline HPWHs that use R-134a refrigerant and is the most common refrigerant used in HPWHs today.
Additionally, ducting options that integrate the HPWH with other building systems and equipment will be evaluated. These ducting configurations include the following:
- Ducting the HPWH to pull air from a full bathroom and exhaust the air outside. In this configuration, the HPWH works as additional exhaust ventilation and the HPWH can benefit from the warm, humid air often occurring in bathrooms.
- Ducting the HPWH to pull air from the home and exhaust air to the area behind the refrigerator. In this setup, the cool air supplied by the HPWH to the area behind the refrigerator can reduce refrigerator energy use by lowering the ambient temperature surrounding the refrigerator to reduce heat gain and by reducing condenser temperatures to increase refrigeration capacity and efficiency.
Project Impact
A uniform energy factor (UEF) of greater than 3 is targeted for the system, 50% higher than the minimum UEF for the ENERGY STAR® program. Depending on the ducting option, the HPWH can improve the comfort and humidity levels of a bathroom, or improve the efficiency of a refrigerator.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Marc LaFrance
Lead Performer: Andre Desjarlais, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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1 A2L refers to the safety group classification of a refrigerant designated by the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). An “A” classification designates lower toxicity and “2L” classification designates lower flammability.