The Reversed Brayton Cycle Heat Pump—A Natural Open Cycle for HVAC Applications

Abstract

Using reasonable assumptions for turbomachinery efficiencies and heat exchanger effectivenesses, the Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Specific Heating Effect (SHE) of the regenerated and unregenerated cycles are computed and optimized. Only heating data are presented and both open and closed cycles are considered. An effort is made to indicate those cases where (the working fluid being air) the cycle may be appropriately open to combine the heating function with ventilation. When driven by an appropriately small direct Brayton cycle prime mover, the total potential for a new and widespread gas turbine application of literally millions of units becomes defined.