Exploratory Research to Improve Energy-Efficiency of a Ground-Coupled Heat Pump Utilizing an Automatic Control Device of Circulation Pump Speed

Ioan Sarbu and Calin Sebarchievici
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Ioan Sarbu: Department of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Piata Victoriei, no 2, 300006 Timisoara, Romania
Calin Sebarchievici: Department of Civil and Building Services Engineering, Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Piata Victoriei, no 2, 300006 Timisoara, Romania

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: Ground-coupled heat pumps (GCHPs) are an efficient thermal energy production system that can satisfy the gap between heating and air-conditioning. Be that as it may, exploratory research on GCHPs is still lacking. The first objective of this article is to describe a utilitarian energy-efficiency improvement device for a vertical GCHP system that includes a buffer tank (BT) between the heat pump unit and the fan coil units and user supply, utilizing the quantitative regulation of water flow rate with a variable-speed circulation pump. At that point, the investigative estimations are utilized to test the performances of the GCHP system in various operating modes. Fundamental efficiency parameters (coefficient of performance (COP) and CO 2 emission) are achieved for one month of running utilizing two control strategies of the GCHP—standard and optimized regulation of the water pump speed—and a benchmarking of these parameters is achieved. Exploratory research has indicated higher efficiency of the system for the flow regulation solution utilizing a BT and programmed control equipment for the circulation pump speed compared with the standard regulation solution (COP sys with 7–8% higher and CO 2 emission level 7.5–8% lower). The second objective is to elaborate a simulation model of the necessary heat/cold in heating and air-conditioning periods, utilizing the Transient Systems Simulation (TRNSYS) program. Finally, the simulation, acquired utilizing the TRNSYS program, is analyzed and compared with experimental information, leading to a good agreement and, along these lines, the simulation model is approved.

Keywords: renewable energy; vertical GCHP; optimized regulation; exploratory investigations; efficiency evaluation; simulation model (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: 2020
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