A multi-functional direct-expansion type of solar-air source heat pump system was developed
and the system performance was analyzed in theory and compared with the experiment result.The evaporator temperature is raised through solar energy input
which in return
translates into improvement in the thermal performance of the heat pump.An experimental prototype was investigated in spring and winter.In spring
when the solar radiation intensity is 856 W·m-2
the average COP of the system produced hot-water is 5.78; when the heating performance of the system was tested in the sunny day of winter
the variation tendency of the COP went the same with that of solar radiation.But the collector efficiency moved in the opposite direction.The mean values of the COP and the efficiency were 5.8 and 0.64
respectively.By the contrast analysis
the relationship of the major parameters of the system was investigated in this paper.