This article investigates the influence of competition on price and product quality among Austrian camping sites, a market characterized by both horizontal (spatial) and vertical product differentiation. Theoretically, the effect of competition on quality is ambiguous and depends on the degree of cost substitutability between output and quality. Estimating a system of equations shows that intense competition has a positive impact on product quality and a negative effect on prices (conditional on quality). As high quality is associated with high prices, the total effect of competition on prices is rather small.

This study aimed to facilitate evaluation of alternative refrigerants for the air conditioner market. In order to achieve this target, two objectives were set. The first being the identification of alternative refrigerant with regard to regulations and trends. The second being enabling of thermodynamic evaluation of refrigerants for single components in air conditioners via design and installation of a test rig. A literature review was conducted to investigate the regulations, standards and trends for nine regions with high market shares. Furthermore, refrigerant substitutes for R410A and R22 where identified. The literature showed strong indications that a global HFC phase down is on the horizon, but that the approach and urge for such a phase down varies between regions where three main priorities could be seen; efficiency, GWP values and safety. Comparing these priorities with simulated refrigerant characteristics such as Carnot efficiency, GWP values, volumetric capacity and the liquid density using RefProp, identified alternatives. Further the literature showed that the lower flammability limit (LFL) and the amount of charge allowed were limiting factors for flammable refrigerant. There are many new refrigerants that could have less charge for the same capacity the LFL however restricts the refrigerants like R290, R441A and R443A only to be used in small systems. A test rig was designed and constructed in order to enable testing of single components in air conditioners. To verify the test rig, tests conducted with an evaporator using two refrigerants: R410A and R32. The reliability and validity of the tests was studied by comparing the results from the air side and refrigerant side, via uncertainty calculations using the GUM method and by a thermodynamic evaluation. The results of the repetition tests showed an expanded uncertainty, with a confidence interval of 95%, of 26 W for a cooling capacity of 2190W for R410A (Q̇evap,R410A=2190±26W). For R32 the expanded uncertainty was 27W for a cooling capacity of 2795W (Q̇evap,R32=2795±27W). Also the test rig was verified to be used for analyzing detailed evaluation of evaporators such as looking at heat transfer and the differential pressure drop. Further the study presented six conclusions: When evaluating refrigerants regional priorities between efficiency, safety and GWP values, refrigerant characteristics and type of unit need to be considered. Safety standards need to be more acceptable towards flammable refrigerants in order to meet low GWP targets. The change in market trends leads to new roles for the refrigerant and compressor suppliers and put higher demand on air conditioner manufacturers to consider refrigerant characteristics in product development. The importance of experimental thermodynamic evaluation on refrigerants effect on single components is increasing. Performance of different refrigerant for single components can be evaluated for optimizing cycle performance. Leapfrogging in the developing world can lead to a faster introduction of low GWP refrigerants.

La pompe à chaleur industrielle très haute température (PAC THT) à compression mécanique de vapeur, fonctionnant à l'électricité, figure parmi l'une des technologies innovantes les plus efficaces permettant de valoriser les rejets thermiques industriels à basse et moyenne température (<90 °C). Néanmoins, compte tenu des besoins industriels actuels de chaleur, les niveaux de température cible atteignable par les PACs restent trop faibles et freinent fortement son implantation. Les procédés de séchage, dans leur grande majorité, rejettent des buées ou de la vapeur d'eau à moyenne température (50 °C-90 °C) et ont des besoins de chaleur à très haute température (110 °C-150 °C). Le grand écart de température entre la source et le besoin de chaleur ainsi que le niveau de température du besoin, font qu'aujourd'hui envisager l'intégration d'une PAC dans ce type de procédés relève d'un défi énergétique et technologique particulièrement intéressant, dont l'enjeu économique est considérable. Les présents travaux de recherche envisagent à l'aide d'une méthodologie générique d'optimisation de cycles thermodynamiques basée sur la minimisation de la production d'entropie dans les échangeurs de chaleur de déceler les architectures de PACs les plus efficaces d'un point de vue énergétique. L'analyse théorique a permis de déceler la haute efficacité énergétique des architectures transcritiques de PACs dans des conditions de grands glissements de température entre l'entrée et la sortie du besoin de chaleur. Le développement d'un démonstrateur de PAC transcritique très haute température fonctionnant au R32 (PAC T-THT R32) a permis d'une part de démontrer la faisabilité technique d'une PAC, pouvant atteindre la température cible de 120 °C en partant de 60 °C avec une source de chaleur disponible à 50 °C, et d'autres part de démontrer sa haute efficacité énergétique (COP = 4). / The mechanical vapour compression high temperature heat pump for industry using electricity is one of the most effective innovative technologies to recover the industrial waste heat at low and medium temperature (<90°C). However, given the current industrial heat needs, the heat pump target temperature levels remain too low and slow strongly its implantation. Overwhelmingly, the drying processes reject saturated moist air at middle temperature (50°C-90°C) and have heat needs at very high temperature (110°C-150°C). The large temperature difference between the source and the heat need and the level off temperature that is needed, today, makes the heat pump integration in such processes an interesting energy and technological challenge, whose economic stake is considerable. The present works tackle, with a generic methodology of thermodynamic optimisation cycles based on the entropy minimization in the heat exchangers, to identify the most efficiency heat pump architectures from an energy point of view. The theoretical analysis allowed to detect the transcritical heat pump architecture, in conditions of high temperature glides between the inlet and the outlet of the heat need. The development of a transcritical high temperature heat pump demonstrator using the R32 as working fluid allowed to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a heat pump that can reach the target temperature of 120°C from 60°C with an available heat source at 50°C, and to demonstrate its high energy efficiency (COP = 4).

Les problèmes liés à l'environnement et plus particulièrement à la couche d'ozone et à l'effet de serre sont fortement d'actualité. Depuis 1987, le protocole de Montreal impose une nouvelle réglementation en terme d'utilisation des fluides frigorigènes pour les pays industrialisés. Pour appliquer ce protocole, dans de bonnes conditions techniques et économiques, l'industrie a besoin de données thermophysiques concernant les nouveaux fluides frigorigènes. Afin de réaliser des mesures d'équilibre liquide vapeur sur les fluides frigorigènes, deux techniques expérimentales ont été choisies et utilisées. Il s'agit d'une technique statique-analytique avec échantillonnage des phases (analyse par chromatographie en phase gazeuse) et d'une technique synthétique avec une cellule à volume variable. Quatre systèmes binaires et un système ternaire ont été étudiés: 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (R227ea)+ propane (R290); difluorométhane (R32) + R290; R32 + R290, dioxyde de carbone (CO2) + R227ea et R32+R290+R227ea. Pour réaliser le traitement des données et la modélisation, un progiciel a été développé: THERMOPACK. Ce progiciel a permis de comparer les résultats expérimentaux obtenus à des valeurs disponibles dans la littérature, de calculer la ligne des points critiques et de calculer la position des azéotropes.

The empirical literature on mergers, market power and collusion in differentiated markets has mainly focused on methods relying on output and/or panel data. In contrast to this literature we suggest a novel approach that allows for the detection of collusive behavior among a group of firms making use of information on the spatial structure of horizontally differentiated products. By estimating best response functions using a spatial econometrics approach, we focus on differences in the strategic interaction in pricing between different groups of firms as well as on differences in price levels. We apply our method to the market for ski lift tickets using a unique data set on ticket prices and detailed resort-specific characteristics covering all ski resorts in Austria. (authors' abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series