Modeling and experimental analysis of the solar radiation in a CO2 direct-expansion solar-assisted heat pump

•It was presented a mathematical model to simulate a CO2 DX-SAHP.•The steady state was achieved using an alternative strategy.•The influence of solar radiation and expansion device opening was investigated.•A small variation in solar radiation produced relevant effects in the superheat. In the present work is presented the dynamic model of an evaporator of a Direct Expansion Solar Assisted Heat Pump (DX-SAHP), charged with CO2. This dynamic model was used to analyze the evaporator response to sudden variations in the solar radiation. Two strategies are used to make the system reach the steady state after the heat pump start-up. The first one is the usual balances of mass, energy and momentum. The second strategy consisted in impose an equal refrigerant mass flow rate at the evaporator inlet and outlet. Both strategies were able to conduct the system to a steady state, however, the second one required less computational effort. The mathematical model was validated using experimental data and employed to perform several simulations. The results obtained with the mathematical model revealed that a small variation of the solar radiation leads to a significant variation in the superheat, therefore requiring an immediate action of the expansion device. It was concluded that an Electronic Expansion Valve (EEV) would be better suited to meet the needs of rapid interventions on the mass flow rate at the evaporator inlet, and also because the DX-SAHP could operate in a continuous transient condition in some seasons.