Vapor Compression Cycles: Control-Oriented Modeling and Validation
This paper presents experimental validation of a dynamic vapor compression cycle (VCC) system model specifically suited for multivariable control design. A moving-boundary lumped parameter modeling approach captures the essential two-phase fluid dynamics while remaining sufficiently tractable to be a useful tool for designing low-order controllers. This research makes two key contributions to the control-oriented dynamic modeling of these systems. First, the moving-boundary approach is used to develop models of evaporators and condensers with receivers, models previously unavailable in the literature. Second, semi-empirical correlations are incorporated for predicting key model parameters. The resulting models are compared to experimental data for validation purposes.