Heat Pump Systems in Existing Multifamily Buildings: A Meta‐Analysis of Field Measurement Data Focusing on the Relationship of Temperature and Performance of Heat Pump Systems

Abstract

Heat pumps play a central role in decarbonizing the heat supply of buildings. However, implementing heat pumps in existing buildings, still presents a significant challenge due to high temperature requirements. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of the effects of heat source temperatures, maximum heat pump condenser temperatures, and system temperatures on the seasonal performance of heat pump systems. The quantitative performance analysis encompasses over 50 heat pumps installed in residential buildings, revealing correlations between the building characteristics, observed temperatures, and heat pump type. The performance of a heat pump system retrofitted to a 30‐dwelling multifamily building is presented in more detail. The bivalent heat pump system combines air and ground as heat sources and achieves a seasonal performance factor of 3.25 with a share of the gas boiler of 27% for the provision of space heating and domestic hot water in its first year of operation. These findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of retrofitting heat pumps in existing buildings and provide insights into overcoming the challenges associated with high temperature requirements.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Energetic performance of a smart neighborhood of existing multifamily buildings with heat pumps, PV and CHP focusing on energy balance and CO2 emissions

“…However, the heat pump has a share of 98 % for space heating. Detailed evaluation of the monitoring of this heat pump system can be found in [6,7,8].…”

Measurement Data-Based Estimation of the Suitability of Existing Properties for the Operation of x to Water Heat Pumps Using a Seed of 100 Multi-Family Houses and Different Power Shifting Approaches

“…Lämmle et al illustrate that within multi-family housing, a mere 7% of the radiators require replacement to transition from a supply temperature of 75 • C/60 • C to a more energy-efficient level of 55 • C/45 • C. Their analysis primarily relied on theoretical calculations applied to a multi-family housing model, with a focus on accounting for the decreased energy demand resulting from enhanced insulation measures [8]. In a distinct investigation conducted by Lämmle et al, a comprehensive analysis of the heat pump market, specifically examining maximum supply temperatures, unveils a noteworthy finding: a significant majority of heat pumps, approximately 80%, are limited to supply temperatures below 60 • C. This underscores the compelling requirement to decrease temperature levels, with dual objectives of enhancing heat pump efficiency within existing structures and aligning with the market availability [9].…”