Ground-Source Heat Pumps

Fundamentals, Experiments and Applications

Ioan Sarbu, Calin Sebarchievici

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9780128042205
• eBook ISBN:
  9780128042410
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Power Resources
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Ground-Source Heat Pumps presents the theory and some of the most recent advances of GSHPs and their implementation in the heating/cooling system of buildings. The authors explore the thermodynamic cycle with calculation, operation regimes and economic indicators and GHG emissions of a vapor compression heat pump. They go on to examine substitution strategies of non-ecological refrigerants and types of compressors and heat pumps, before delving into the different GSHP systems, as well as their compared economic, energy and environmental performances using classical and optimized adjustment for various operating modes. Surface water heat pumps and ground water heat pumps are covered, and special focus is given to both vertical and horizontal ground-coupled heat pump systems, for which modelling and simulation is discussed, and experimental systems are described. Due to its advanced approach to the subject, this book will be especially valuable for researchers, graduate students and academics, and as reference for engineers and specialists in the varied domains of building services. - Explores fundamentals and state-of-the-art research, including ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems. - Includes performance assessment and comparison for different types of GSHP, numerical simulation models, practical applications of GSHPs with details on the renewable energy integration, information on refrigerants, and economic analysis.

Chapter 1

Introduction

Abstract

This chapter summarises a description of renewable energy, concentrating on geothermal energy, and presents the operation principle of a heat pump and the necessity for using heat pumps in the heating/cooling systems of buildings.

Keywords

Renewable energy; geothermal energy; building heating/cooling; heat pump; operation principle

1.1 Generalities

Buildings are an important part of European culture and heritage, and they play an important role in the energy policy of Europe. An economic strategy of sustainable development certainly promotes efficiency and rational energy use in buildings, which are the major energy consumer in Romania and the other member states of the European Union (EU). EU energy consumption patterns reveal that buildings are the greatest energy consumer, using approximately 40% of the total energy demand, followed by industry and transportation, which consume approximately 30% each [1]. Buildings offer the greatest and most cost-effective potential for energy savings. Studies have also shown that saving energy is the most cost-effective method for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Currently, heating is responsible for almost 80% of the energy demand in houses and utility buildings, used for the purpose of space heating and hot-water generation, whereas the energy demand for cooling is growing yearly. Pollution emissions of GHGs, rising energy demand and an increasing dependence on imports are important energy problems for any country to solve.

To realise the ambitious goals for reducing the consumption of fossil fuel as primary energy and the related CO₂ emissions, and to reach the targets of the Kyoto Protocol, improved energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the existing building stock must be addressed in the near future.

The European strategy to decrease energy dependence rests on two objectives: the diversification of the various sources of supply and policies to control consumption. The key to diversification is renewable energy sources (RES) because they have significant potential to contribute to sustainable development [2].

This chapter summarises a description of renewable energy, concentrating on geothermal energy, and presents the operation principle of a heat pump (HP) and the necessity for using HPs in the heating/cooling systems of buildings.

1.2 Renewable Energy

The term “renewable energy” refers to energy that is produced from natural resources that have the characteristics of inexhaustibility over time and natural renewability.

RES include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydro energies [3]. An efficient utilisation of renewable resources has significant potential to both stimulate the economy and reduce pollution. Thus, many governments have implemented various policies that support renewable energy generation. One of the key components of any renewable energy policy is the setting of renewable energy targets.

Numerous efforts have been undertaken by developed countries to implement different renewable energy technologies, and in particular, the use of wind energy has increased over the last few years [4]. For example, the Netherlands, Germany, India and Malaysia use wind turbines to produce electricity [5]. In northwestern Iran, mineral materials are used for the production of geothermal energy, and in Iceland, 70% of factories use geothermal energy for industrial purposes [6].

Although Romania has a high potential of RES, in 2010, the RES share of the total energy consumption was 23.4%. Romania ranked second place in the EU for the portion of energy from renewable sources out of gross final consumption from 2006 to 2010 [7].

Among the energy alternatives to fossil fuels, RES such as solar and wind are more available.

On 23 April 2009, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, which establishes a common framework for the promotion of RES. This directive has stated that by the year 2020, the average energy percentage from renewable sources will be approximately 20% of the total energy consumption (Table 1.1). The 2009/28/EC directive opens up a major opportunity for the further use of HPs for heating and cooling of new and existing buildings. HPs enable the use of ambient heat at useful tem...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Author Biographies
• Preface
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Chapter 2. Vapour Compression-Based Heat Pump Systems
• Chapter 3. Substitution Strategy of Non-Ecological Refrigerants
• Chapter 4. Types of Compressors and Heat Pumps
• Chapter 5. Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems
• Chapter 6. Heat Pump Heating and Cooling Systems
• Chapter 7. Experimental Ground-Coupled Heat Pump Systems
• Index