Gas Engine-Driven Heat Pumps for Small-Scale Applications: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

Carlo Roselli, Elisa Marrasso and Maurizio Sasso
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Carlo Roselli: DING, Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Elisa Marrasso: DING, Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Maurizio Sasso: DING, Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-73

Abstract: Gas engine-driven heat pumps are an interesting option to satisfy space heating and cooling demands aiming at energy saving, environmental impact and operating costs’ reduction. This work presents (i) a comprehensive review updated on gas engine-driven heat pumps research activities, (ii) the investigation of the central role of this technology in the air conditioning sector and (iii) the future perspectives regarding gas engine heat pumps’ diffusion in the context of the energy sector decarbonisation. The outcomes highlight that gas engine heat pumps could have better environmental performance compared to electric heat pumps both in heating and cooling operations. Moreover, they could play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change and energy security since they can guarantee an energy mix differentiation moving from electricity to natural gas and renewable gases’ usage. Indeed, by 2030, a lower-carbon gas grid could be supported by renewable gases. A further investigation has concerned diffusion of gas heat pumps activated from biofuels produced by local biomass in an energy community scenario based on a low-temperature energy district network. A novel biomass-based GEHP interacting with a low-temperature district heating network is proposed here. This system could save more than 30% of primary energy compared to biomass-fuelled boilers.

Keywords: gas engine-driven heat pump; small-scale applications; energy analysis; research activities; future prospective; biomass-based gas engine-driven heat pump (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: 2021
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