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A performance comparison between an air‐source and a ground‐source reversible heat pump
Author(s) -
De Swardt C. A.,
Meyer J. P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.730
Subject(s) - air source heat pumps , heat pump , coefficient of performance , hybrid heat , heat exchanger , air conditioning , environmental science , refrigerant , copper in heat exchangers , water heating , nuclear engineering , heat transfer , meteorology , mechanics , engineering , plate fin heat exchanger , plate heat exchanger , mechanical engineering , waste management , physics
In this study, the performance of a reversible ground‐source heat pump coupled to a municipality water reticulation system, is compared experimentally and with simulations to a conventional air‐source heat pump for space cooling and heating. A typical municipality water reticulation system comprises hundreds of kilometres of pipes designed in loops that will ensure adequate circulation of water. This results in a substantial heat exchanger with great potential. Indirect heat transfer occurs between the refrigerant and ground via the municipality water reticulation system that acts as the water‐to‐ground heat exchanger. The experimental and simulated comparisons of the ground‐source system to the air‐source system are conducted in both the cooling and the heating cycles. Climatalogical statistics are used to calculate the capacities and coefficients of performance of the ground‐source and air‐source heat pumps. Results obtained from measurements and simulations indicate that the utilization of municipality water reticulation systems as a heat source/sink is a viable method of optimizing energy usage in the air conditioning industry, especially when used in the heating mode. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.