Experimental study on performance of heat pump system for tobacco leaf flue-curing

In order to study the characteristic of heat pump system for tobacco leaf flue-curing and provide valuable reference for engineering application and extension, a new heat pump system which had a simple structure, easy controlling and low cost for tobacco leaf flue-curing was designed. Then the experimental performance of such system was investigated. When the quantity of fresh tobacco loaded in the barn was 2 432 kg, the results of the experiment indicated the maximum power consumption of compressor was 12.6 kW; that the coefficient of performance (COP) reached 3.25; and the specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) of heat pump system for tobacco leaf flue-curing was 2.42 kg/(kW·h) during the whole curing process. Finally an economic comparison for curing tobacco between with heat pump and with coal stove was made. The curing cost for 1 kg dry tobacco leaves was 2.12 Yuan with heat pump and 2.97 Yuan with coal stove. Comparing with coal stove, heat pump system for tobacco leaf flue-curing has advantage in energy saving and remarkable social and economic benefits.