Heating performance of heat pump air conditioning system for battery electric vehicle with different refrigerants

To improve the heating performance of Heat Pump Air Conditioning System (HPACS) of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and reduce the greenhouse effect of refrigerants, the performances of multiple refrigerants in different modes and conditions are analyzed in this paper. Based on Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) dynamic conditions, the impact of heating on battery State of Charge (SOC) is analyzed in HPACS and Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) combined heating mode. To better evaluate the contribution of refrigerants to the greenhouse effect, Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) is used to evaluate multiple refrigerants. The results show that heating capacity increases with the increment of compressor power and air velocity. As compressor power decreases and air velocity increases, COP increases. R32 and R744 are the optimal refrigerants. When the ambient temperature is between −10°C and −15°C under WLTC conditions, the SOC reduction of R32 system is 20.8%–21.1% less than that of R134a system. When the ambient temperature is between −20 and −25°C, the SOC reduction of R744 system is 21.4%–21.6% less than that of R134a system. And the carbon dioxide emissions of R32 and R744 systems are 35.1%, 66.9%, 39.2%, and 55.5% less than that of R134a system, respectively.