Expansion Valve Heat Pump                                           Flash Tank CFD Model

Current Projects

The center developed a novel test method for measuring oil retention, applying it to a wide range of refrigerants and miscible and non-miscible lubricants. The resulting correlations are predicting oil retention in systems. Then, CEEE, together with one of its sponsors, developed an oil concentration sensor.  We’ve created a test facility and method for the measurement of vapor compression system performance under dynamic conditions. We test automotive air conditioners over an entire drive cycle — or a route traveling from Maine to Florida — without ever leaving the lab.

CEEE faculty and graduate students are working for the following projects:

• Transient performance of secondary loop systems
• HFC two-stage cycles with vapor injection compressor
• Plate heat exchanger performance evaluations
• Water retention on fin surfaces
• Separate latent and sensible cooling
• Solar cooling technologies
• Industrial CHP applications