Abstract
The performance of an air-source heat pump water-heater (ASHPWH) system manufactured by Kronoterm was benchmarked in this study for the application of dairy farming in Ireland. The COP of the system was calculated to be 2.27 under normal operating conditions. The device was able to supply water at 80 °C, however a full tank at this temperature was not achieved or deemed necessary for the dairy application. Litres per kWh was used as a performance metric for the device and the usable water per unit of energy for the system was found to be 397 L when using both electric heaters and 220 L when using just the top heater both in conjunction with the heat pump. The performance of the heat pump system in terms of its cost to run and efficiency was also compared with five other water heaters. The heat pump is seen to be very efficient, however due to the carbon intensity of the Irish grid electricity and high water temperatures required, the solar water heater with gas backup was found to be the best performing under energy efficiency and carbon emissions per litre of usable water. In conclusion, although the heat pump was not the best-performing system under these metrics, the cost and complexity of the solar-gas system may be a deterrent for dairy farmers and for this reason, the heat pump is considered a cost-effective, efficient and viable option for dairy farmers trying to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills.
Highlights
One of the main drivers of environmental damage in the form of climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the production of energy, and in particular electricity
The heat pump is more efficient than other water heater technologies even at higher water temperatures, it is not as efficient as some of the heat pumps which were seen in the literature such as one in the study by Ibrahim et al [25]
The performance of an air-source heat pump water-heater (ASHPWH) is dependent on ambient temperature and humidity and the coefficient of performance (COP) may change throughout the year
Summary
One of the main drivers of environmental damage in the form of climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the production of energy, and in particular electricity. By improving the energy efficiency, the demand for energy decreases, because less energy is required to perform the same basic task, e.g., electricity for agricultural water-heating. By reducing the demand for energy through improvements in energy efficiency, the amount of fossil fuels burned is reduced. The same works for increasing the quantity of energy produced from renewable energy. For this reason, all avenues to reducing energy demand and increasing renewable energy production must be explored. The net supply efficiency of electricity in Ireland in 2017 was 49%, which means that 51% of the energy produced was lost [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
