An Installed Hybrid Direct Expansion Solar Assisted Heat Pump Water Heater to Monitor and Modeled the Energy Factor of a University Students’ Accommodation

Stephen Tangwe (), Patrick Mukumba and Golden Makaka ()
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Stephen Tangwe: Renewable Energy Research Group, Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Patrick Mukumba: Renewable Energy Research Group, Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
Golden Makaka: Renewable Energy Research Group, Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-30

Abstract: This paper focused on the performance monitoring and modeling of a 6.0 kW, 2000 L hybrid direct expansion solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) water heater used for the production of hot water in a university students’ accommodation with 123 females. The data of total electrical energy consumed, volume of hot water consumed, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar irradiance were obtained from the data acquisition systems and analyzed in conjunction with the energy factor (EF) of the system. A multiple linear regression model was developed to predict the EF. The EF of the hybrid DX-SAHP water heater was determined from the summation of the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump unit and the solar fraction (SF) of the solar collectors. The operations of the hybrid energy system were analyzed based on three phases (first phase from 00:00–08:00, second phase from 08:30–18:30, and third phase from 19:00–23:30) over 24 h for the entire monitoring period. The average EF of the hybrid energy system per day during the second phase of operation was 4.38, while the SF and COP were 0.697 and 3.683, respectively. The developed multiple linear regression model for the hybrid DX-SAHP water heater accurately predicted the determined EF.

Keywords: hybrid direct expansion solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) water heater; energy factor; coefficient of performance; solar fraction; multiple linear regression model; university students’ accommodation (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: 2023
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