Study and Optimization of Design Parameters in Water Loop Heat Pump Systems for Office Buildings in the Iberian Peninsula

Francisco Javier Fernández, María Belén Folgueras and Inés Suárez
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Francisco Javier Fernández: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain
María Belén Folgueras: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain
Inés Suárez: Polytechnic School of Engineering, University of Oviedo, C/Wifredo Ricart s/n, 33204 Gijón, Spain

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Water loop heat pump (WLHP) air conditioning systems use heat pumps connected to a common water circuit to fulfill the energy demands of different thermal zones in a building. In this study, the energy consumption was analyzed for the air conditioning of an office building in the typical climate of four important cities of the Iberian Peninsula. The energy consumption of one water loop heat pump system was compared with a conventional water system. Two design parameters, the range in the control temperatures and the water loop thermal storage size, were tested. Energy redistribution is an important advantage of the WLHP system, but significant savings came from high efficiency parameters in the heat pumps and minor air flow rates in the cooling tower. The low thermal level in the water loop makes this technology appropriate to combine with renewable sources. Using natural gas as the thermal energy source, a mean decrease in CO 2 emissions of 8.1% was reached. Simulations showed that the installation of big thermal storage tanks generated small energy savings. Besides, the total annual consumption in buildings with high internal loads can be reduced by keeping the water loop as cool as possible.

Keywords: water loop heat pump; heating ventilating and air conditioning; office building energy consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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