Analysis and Comparison of Some Low-Temperature Heat Sources for Heat Pumps

Pavel Neuberger and Radomír Adamovský
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Pavel Neuberger: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Radomír Adamovský: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: The efficiency of a heat pump energy system is significantly influenced by its low-temperature heat source. This paper presents the results of operational monitoring, analysis and comparison of heat transfer fluid temperatures, outputs and extracted energies at the most widely used low temperature heat sources within 218 days of a heating period. The monitoring involved horizontal ground heat exchangers (HGHEs) of linear and Slinky type, vertical ground heat exchangers (VGHEs) with single and double U-tube exchanger as well as the ambient air. The results of the verification indicated that it was not possible to specify clearly the most advantageous low-temperature heat source that meets the requirements of the efficiency of the heat pump operation. The highest average heat transfer fluid temperatures were achieved at linear HGHE (8.13 ± 4.50 °C) and double U-tube VGHE (8.13 ± 3.12 °C). The highest average specific heat output 59.97 ± 41.80 W/m 2 and specific energy extracted from the ground mass 2723.40 ± 1785.58 kJ/m 2 ·day were recorded at single U-tube VGHE. The lowest thermal resistance value of 0.07 K·m 2 /W, specifying the efficiency of the heat transfer process between the ground mass and the heat transfer fluid, was monitored at linear HGHE. The use of ambient air as a low-temperature heat pump source was considered to be the least advantageous in terms of its temperature parameters.

Keywords: heat pump; low-temperature power source; horizontal ground heat exchanger; vertical ground heat exchanger; heat transfer fluid; specific heat output; extracted energy (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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