Energetic and exergetic performance analysis of Bethe-Zeldovich-Thompson (BZT) fluids in geothermal heat pumps

This study highlights theoretical energetic and exergetic performance evaluation results of Bethe-Zeldovich-Thompson (BZT) fluids in geothermal heat pumps. In this study, hexafluoroethane (R116), octafluoropropane (R218), and octafluorocyclobutane (RC318) were selected as possible alternative replacements to the traditional refrigerants in geothermal heat pumps. According to the calculations, coefficient of performance of 101 kW geothermal heat pumps (COP(HP)) changes with range between 3.84, 3.08, and 2.92 for octafluorocyclobutane (RC318), hexafluoroethane (R116), and octafluoropropane (R218), respectively. Moreover, R116 shows the maximum exergy efficiency 68% among the selected BZT fluids. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.