Defrost cycle performance for a circular shape evaporator air source heat pump

Air source heat pumps have numerous advantages in many applications over other heating equipment with regard to energy efficiency. However, there are two main problems with air source heat pumps: (1) heating capacity decreases when the outdoor air temperature becomes lower and (2) when there is frost formation on the outdoor heat exchanger surfaces in humid climates. This paper will examine the defrost cycle for a residential heat pump with circular shaped evaporator coil in more detail paying special attention to the high humidity conditions encountered in maritime climates. The investigation was to optimise the efficiency of an air source heat pump operating under a range of conditions that would include defrost. Performance optimisation was achieved through a series of experiments carried out to the EN14511 test standard from which it was possible to note the best defrost initiation condition, defrost operating time and intervals between defrosts that most benefited the performance of the heat pump.