This　study　proposes　a　novel　heat　pump　drying　cycle,　which　uses　an　enhanced　single-stage　suction　and　dual-stage　discharge　compressor　(HPDESD).　The　system　enables　the　step　heating　of　the　cold　air　at　the　evaporator　exit,　reducing　the　irreversible　losses　in　both　compression　and　heat　transfer　process.　The　simulation　results　agree　well　with　the　experimental　results.　The　energy　consumption　and　drying　time　of　the　HPDESD　system　is　1.63kWh　and　156mins,　respectively,　causing　an　energy-saving　rate　of　20.3%　and　saving　4mins　compared　to　the　basic　heat　pump　drying　cycle.　In　addition,　the　SMER　and　MER　are　sensitive　to　the　compressor　size　and　air　cycle　flowrate　rather　than　clothing　mass.　When　compressor　size　decreases　of　20%　and　the　air　cycle　flowrate　increases　20%,　the　SMER　rises　by　16.2%　and　5.2%,　respectively,　compared　to　the　original　system.　Meanwhile,　the　SMER　and　MER　of　the　optimized　system　are　3.64　kg/kWh　and　2.21　kg/h,　respectively,　which　are　11%　and　7.3%　higher　than　the　original　design.　It　is　worth　noting　that　the　HPDESD　system　has　higher　SMER　and　MER　than　other　types.　In　future,　utilizing　the　extra　energy　and　adopting　the　optimization　control　strategy　of　compressor　can　further　improve　the　performance　of　the　heat　pump　dryers.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd