Transient investigation of a residential building air conditioning system with heat pump and PV/T modules

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Abstract Nowadays, in response to the European energy crisis and the imperative to reduce carbon emissions, the study of energy systems plays a crucial role. New energy systems and configurations have been studied in the recent years to improve the energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases emissions. This study investigates the dynamic performance of a residential HVAC system integrating photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) modules and a heat pump. The system aims to harness thermal energy from solar radiation using PV/T modules to generate electricity and heat water. The case study is performed considering a building located in Caserta. According to the authors knowledge, there is a lack of information regarding the modeling of PV/T systems with a heat pump. Inside the studied system, the thermal energy is stored in a storage tank for later use. An auxiliary heater is activated to produce domestic hot water (DHW) when the PV/T cannot provide it. The system components are modeled using TRNSYS. A dynamic simulation approach is adopted to assess the system performance under varying environmental conditions and building load demands. These load demands are used to model real-world scenarios. This kind of system offers several advantages. Firstly, the PV/T modules serve a dual purpose of electricity generation and water heating, maximizing energy utilization. Secondly, the heat pump enhances the overall efficiency of the system by extracting heat from the water stored in the puffer tank, thereby reducing reliance on conventional heating methods. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the performance and feasibility of integrating PV/T in residential HVAC systems. During the winter season, the solar fraction, the ratio between energy supply from PV/T and total energy demand, averages about 25%. When heating is not required, the PV/T panels manage to ensure the production of approximately 75% of DHW.