Define the following terms a regenerationfeedwater heating a

Define the following terms: a.) regeneration/feedwater heating (as applied to the Rankine cycle) 2. What is meant by the terms \"air coupled\" and \"ground coupled\" when applied to heat pump/air conditioning systems? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a ground coupled system compared to an air coupled system?

Solution

1) In thermodynamic power cycles, an improvement of even 0.5% in overall cycle efficiency is an important gain. One of the more common ways to improve the efficiency of a steam cycle is to use regeneration, a process where heat is taken from steam between turbine stages and used to heat water as it goes through pump stages. Using CyclePad, we will modify a Rankine cycle and examine the effects of regeneration on the cycle\'s thermal efficiency.

2) Air coupled heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water in your home.

An air coupled heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can get heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15° C. Heat pumps have some impact on the environment as they need electricity to run, but the heat they extract from the ground, air, or water is constantly being renewed naturally.

Ground coupled heat pumps use pipes which are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home.

A ground coupled heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe, called a ground loop, which is buried in your garden. Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump can be used throughout the year.

Advantages of ground coupled heat pumps:

Disadvantages of ground coupled heat pumps: