Optimizing the air source heat pump's working time in the context of increasing the energy efficiency ratio

Abstract

The article presents a method of optimizing the operation of an air heat pump. For this purpose, a genetic algorithm was used, whose task will be to start the heat pump at the moment of the highest outside air temperatures and the lowest charges for electric current. The device is used for the production of domestic hot water and heating water. Other heat sources such as water and soil were omitted from the analysis due to too much inertia and the fact that air heat pumps are the most widespread in Europe. The analysis focused on transition periods for the climate that occurs in the Polish. Energy calculations were carried out for the month of November 2021. The operation of the heat pump at the highest air temperatures during the day and at the lowest air temperatures during the night was compared. According to the analysis, the costs of generating heat at night are about 6% higher compared to the production of heat during the day. The analysis took into account the occurrence of the largest partitions of hot water from the buffer. The proposed solution for optimizing the operation of the heat pump based on the use of a genetic algorithm takes into account, m.in, the analysis of daily water partitions from the buffer, the purpose of the installation, historical weather data from a given climate zone, maintaining the minimum water temperature in the buffer, periodic overheating above 75°C and electricity prices related to the applicable energy tariff.