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Two phase flow mal-distribution in inlet header of the parallel flow evaporator will cause performance degradation, partial frosting and comfortableness problems. In order to solve these issues in heat pump system of electric vehicles, four types of small diameter tube and fin heat exchangers with different flow passage were designed and experimental measured in heat pump system of electric vehicles. The experimental results showed that in terms of performance, the small diameter tube and fin heat exchanger can reach even exceed the micro-channel heat exchanger on capacity and COP in heating model. Compared with micro-channel, the tube and fin heat exchanger with 4 inlets and 4 outlets can increase capacity from 2010W to 2689W, and increase COP from 2.6 to 2.8. However the frost/defrost experimental results showed that there was a decrease on the capacity of micro-channel heat exchanger after several frost/defrost periods.

The heat pump with low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants is imperative for the electric vehicle (EV) to slow down global warming and extend the driving range while meeting passengers' thermal comfort in low ambient temperatures. However, there are no appropriate refrigerants. To provide long-term and environmental-friendly refrigerants in the heat pump for EVs, herein, we reported newly developed low-GWP refrigerant mixtures, i.e., DL3B, whose GWP is lower than 140, the flammability (lower flammability limit and burning velocity), saturation pressure, lubricant miscibility, material compatibility were experimentally tested. A test bench that can investigate the performance of an R410A prototype was built. The drop-in tests of the DL refrigerant were carried out to evaluate the capacities and COPs for both cooling and heating modes in the EV heat pump system.