Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Low-GWP Heat Pump Coupled to Electrical and Thermal Energy Storage to Increase the Share of Renewables across Europe

Omais Abdur Rehman, Valeria Palomba, Andrea Frazzica (), Antonios Charalampidis, Sotirios Karellas and Luisa F. Cabeza
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Omais Abdur Rehman: CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (ITAE), 98126 Messina, Italy
Valeria Palomba: CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (ITAE), 98126 Messina, Italy
Andrea Frazzica: CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (ITAE), 98126 Messina, Italy
Antonios Charalampidis: Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Sotirios Karellas: Laboratory of Steam Boilers and Thermal Plants, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
Luisa F. Cabeza: GREiA Research Group, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-33

Abstract: In order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels in the residential sector, low-carbon-footprint technologies such as heat pumps should be used. To fully exploit solar-assisted heat pumps, an effective control strategy is required. This study employs a low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerant for a water-to-water reversible heat pump, which is assisted by a thermal energy storage tank, photovoltaic (PV) installation, and battery storage system using a dedicated control strategy. The heat pump’s operation is validated against the experimental data. Simulations are carried out for three different climates to analyze the performance of reversible heat pumps across Europe. The reversible heat pump fully meets the summer cooling demand in all three climates, while the heating demand is covered with the help of a backup source. An economic analysis is carried out for three different PV sizes and the results are compared with the reference energy systems. The inclusion of a battery storage system results in high payback times but increases overall flexibility and self-sufficiency.

Keywords: reversible heat pump; low-GWP refrigerant; self-sufficiency index; Dymola modeling; thermal energy storage; battery storage; energy policies; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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