It is proposed to experimentally investigate the performance of a vapor compression heat pump with a two-stage solution circuit. It achieves high temperature lifts at very low pressure ratios, promising improved performance. The goal of this project is to verify the theoretical performance improvement over conventional systems, to study the interaction of coupled solution circuits, and to provide experimental data to verify a computer model that is currently being developed. The advanced heat pump cycle has potential applications in combined refrigeration/heating situations, and any other large temperature lift condition in industry or district heating systems.
