WASHINGTON — Heat pumps have traditionally been popular in more mild, Southern regions, and have failed to gain traction in cold climates. This is because, as air temperatures drop, air-source heat pump performance suffers, essentially limiting heat pump year-round use to warmer climates. Working with Mechanical Solutions Inc. (MSI), a small business in New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office has found a potential solution: a “supercharger” that allows heat pumps to efficiently operate in the coldest U.S. climates, with zero backup heat.
Through a Small Business Innovation Research award, Mechanical Solutions designed and developed its supercharger, which will enable heat pumps to efficiently operate across the entire U.S. market. The supercharger works as an add-on, or a pre-compressor, to existing heat pumps. The two technologies are connected in series, and they operate in unison — the supercharger automatically boosts the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature before it gets to the primary compressor. By pre-compressing the refrigerant, the supercharger allows the traditional compressor to operate effectively at any temperature. The concept is similar to superchargers for piston engine aircrafts, which must maintain effectiveness with cooler temperatures and “thinner” air at high altitudes.