Thermo-economic analysis of a solar district heating plant with an air-to-water heat pump

Yi Xu, Chenxuan Zhan, Adam R. Jensen, Meng Gao, Weiqiang Kong and Jianhua Fan

Renewable Energy, 2024, vol. 237, issue PA

Abstract: Solar district heating systems are essential in reducing carbon emissions and alleviating the energy crisis. By integrating with air-to-water heat pumps, it is possible to enhance the system’s efficiency and flexibility. However, the complementary mechanisms and coupling effects between the heat pump and the other components of the system are not clear. To address these issues, it is necessary to investigate the thermo-economic performance of the system, taking into account energy price fluctuations to achieve a more efficient and economically viable operational model. This study focuses on a solar district heating system in the Danish city of Ørum and investigates the impact of integrating a large-scale air-to-water heat pump. Based on energy and economic analyses, the impact of the heat pump on the system efficiency and the levelized cost of heat are investigated for 2020 and 2022. The results show that the heat pump can convert low-cost electricity into heat which will be stored in the tank, increasing the tank’s heat storage content by 1.2 times. The medium to low-temperature water in the tank can preheat the heat pump’s compressor, raising the COP of the heat pump from 3.3 to 3.5 and increasing the annual utilization cycle of the tank by 1.4 times by reducing the return water temperature to the bottom of the tank. Additionally, the system performance has been improved due to the installation of the heat pump, which increased the system COP from 1.22 in 2020 to 2.62 in 2022. Subsequently, the CO2 emission has been decreased from 192 kg/MWh to 74 kg/MWh with a larger share of sustainable energy. Due to the heat pump operation, the system-levelized cost of heat could be reduced to 68.6 EUR/MWh, compared to 94 EUR/MWh if the heat pump is removed. The investigation also revealed that the heat pump improved the flexibility of the heating system in response to energy prices, especially during the 2022 energy crisis in Europe. The findings of the paper provide a good reference for large solar heating applications.

Keywords: Solar district heating plant; Air-to-water heat pump; Solar collector field; Hot water tank; Long-term performance; Thermo-economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:237:y:2024:i:pa:s0960148124015581

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121490

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