Energy Analysis and Cost-Effective Design Solutions for a Dual-Source Heat Pump System in Representative Climates in Europe

Abstract

Ground-source heat pumps are an efficient technology for heating and cooling in buildings. However, the main limitation of their widespread application is the borehole heat exchanger’s (BHE) high investment cost. Hybridizing GSHP systems may overcome this limitation. This research work analyzes the long-term energy performance of a dual-source heat pump (DSHP) system, which uses the air or the ground as external heat/sink sources, in three representative European climates. First, a BHE cost-effective design solution is proposed for each climatology; then, a complete energy analysis is carried out, and the optimal source control parameters that best enhance the system performance in each climate are determined with the use of a complete dynamic model of the DSHP system developed in TRNSYS. Simulations were carried out for a 25-year operation period. Results show that the DSHP maintains the efficiency during the simulated period, with deviations lower than 1.7% in all cases. Finally, the source control optimization method results in only slight efficiency gains (<0.35%) but with a stronger effect on the ground/air use ratio (up to 25% use of air in cold climates), reducing the thermal imbalance of the ground and leading to a consequent BHE size length and cost reduction.

The Development of an Energy Efficient Temperature Controller for Residential Use and Its Generalization Based on LSTM

“…The first modeling type [ 12 ] is based on the detailed knowledge of the process and its physics, (i.e., energy balance, thermodynamic equations, laws of conservation, etc.) and the thermal model is mathematically detailed many times by employing dedicated simulation software such as Transys [ 13 , 14 ], EnergyPlus [ 15 , 16 ], COMSOL [ 17 , 18 ], or Modelica [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Evaluation of Heat Pump Operation in a Single-Family House

“…Thе only significant drawback of thе GSHP is thе initial capital invеstmеnts, which arе 2-3 timеs highеr for GSHP. At thе samе timе, study [18] shows thе bеnеfits of combining ASHP and GSHP in a dual-sourcе hеat pump systеm with еvaluation for thrее rеprеsеntativе climatеs in Еuropе. Thе sourcе control optimization mеthod rеsults in only slight еfficiеncy gains (<0.35 %) but with a strongеr еffеct on thе ground/air usе ratio (up to 25 % usе of air in cold climatеs), rеducing thе thеrmal imbalancе of thе ground and lеading to a consеquеnt BHЕ sizе lеngth and cost rеduction.…”