Optimal Operation of Low-Capacity Heat Pump Systems for Residential Buildings through Thermal Energy Storage

Alessandro Franco, Carlo Bartoli, Paolo Conti and Daniele Testi
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Alessandro Franco: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Carlo Bartoli: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Paolo Conti: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Daniele Testi: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: The paper provides results from a hardware-in-the-loop experimental campaign on the operation of an air-source heat pump (HP) for heating a reference dwelling in Pisa, Italy. The system performances suffer from typical oversizing of heat emission devices and high water-supply temperature, resulting in HP inefficiencies, frequent on-off cycles, and relevant thermal losses on the hydronic loop. An experimentally validated HP model under different supply temperatures and part-load conditions is used to simulate the installation of a thermal storage between heat generator and emitters, in both series and parallel arrangements. Results relative to a typical residential apartment show that the presence of the thermal storage in series configuration ensures smoother heat pump operation and energy performance improvement. The number of daily on-off cycles can be reduced from 40 to 10, also saving one-third of electric energy with the same building loads. Preliminary guidelines are proposed for correctly sizing the tank in relation to the HP capacity and the average daily heating load of the building. A storage volume of about 70 L for each kilowatt of nominal heating capacity is suggested.

Keywords: buildings; energy efficiency; heat pumps (HP); hardware-in-the-loop (HiL); thermal energy storage (TES); optimal control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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