Performance analysis of ground source heat pump systems for constant temperature and humidity air conditioning in industrial buildings: a case study

Abstract

Abstract The ground source heat pump (GSHP) system has gained widespread popularity for its provision of efficient and environmentally sustainable cooling and heating solutions for buildings. While the performance of GSHP systems has raised significant concerns, research predominantly focuses on residential and office buildings, leaving a gap in understanding their applicability in industrial settings with constant temperature and humidity air conditioning needs. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the performance of a hybrid ground source heat pump (HGSHP) system implemented within a cigarette factory located in the hot summer and cold winter (HSCW) of China. Through a comprehensive analysis of operational data and long-term monitoring under three cooling conditions, essential parameters including water temperature characteristics, indoor temperature and humidity, system efficiency, power consumption, and soil temperature distribution were examined. The findings revealed that the weighted average coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pumps (COPhp) and the whole system (COPsys) was decreased from 5.05 to 4.32 and 3.32 to 2.89, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between low cooling load high energy consumption, and low COP. The inlet temperature of the condenser exhibited a declining trend, which was attributed to the intermittent operation of condensation heat recovery. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of indoor temperature and humidity distribution within the controlled room was presented and found that almost all the rooms serviced by this system meet the specified design requirements. This research contributes to an enhanced understanding of the viability of HGSHP systems in industrial settings and provides valuable references for improving their energy efficiency and overall performance.