Energy and exergy analysis of a novel dual-source heat pump system with integrated phase change energy storage

Abstract

In order to improve the application of renewable energy in cold regions and overcome the drawback of the low performance of traditional air source heat pumps (ASHP) in a low temperature environment, a novel type of dual-source heat pump system is proposed, which includes a heat pump, photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) modules, an air heat exchanger, and phase-change energy storage equipment. In response to different outdoor environmental parameters, the heat pump can use the PVT, ambient air, or solidification latent heat of water in the ice tank as the heat source. This study focuses on analyzing the applicability of this novel system in residential buildings. Firstly, the thermodynamic performance of the system under typical operating conditions is experimentally analyzed, proving that the system can effectively utilize solar energy under low solar irradiation. Then, the operational strategy of the system is optimized with the optimization goal of system exergy efficiency. Finally, the continuous operation performance of the system in winter is simulated and analyzed. The results show that the utilization ratio of solar energy reaches 2/3 in winter. Compared with the traditional ASHP system, the energy-saving rate of the novel system is 73.6 %, which can reduce the carbon emissions by 69 %. These results provide technical guidance for the application of the novel system in residential buildings in cold regions.