Using a Heat Pump Experiment With Automated Data Acquisition to Augment Hands-On Learning

Abstract

This paper presents the results of using laboratory facilities in conjunction with computer aided data acquisition in order to enhance the teaching and learning experiences of the air conditioning and measurements/instrumentation courses in an engineering program. The paper discusses the use of educational technology in the form of a laboratory experiment developed for support of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education in an engineering curriculum. The experimental apparatus discussed in the paper is a heat pump demonstration unit with LabView data collection and visualization software. The use of modern technology in the classroom is illustrated in this paper by using a heat pump demonstration unit to illustrate the physical principles of air conditioning and heating. Data collection and acquisition/instrumentation, data reduction curriculum is addressed by using an automated data collection system to gather data for the heating and cooling processes. The main objectives of the study were to i) expose STEM students to LabView based data collection, ii) enhance the curriculum of air conditioning and measurements science by using hands-on facilities, iii) develop technical report writing and data reduction skill sets. The experiment is conducted in small teams of 3 to 4 students in order to make the experiential learning a more intimate process. The heat pump hardware is used to illustrate real world working system. The experiment is composed of a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and throttling valve. The unit allows for operation as both a heat pump and a refrigeration unit. Thus illustrating the concept of Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (ERR) for both the heat pump and the refrigeration mode are enabled. The unit works on R134A and water as the working fluids. The unit is instrumented with a control thermostat allowing the set-point of the device to be changed. Thermocouples, pressure transducers and flow rate meters are used to collect live data which is fed to the LabView based data-acquisition platform. By using such equipment in the teaching of the Air Conditioning curriculum, it allows the students