Life-Cycle Assessment of an Innovative Ground-Source Heat Pump System with Upstream Thermal Storage

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are an extremely efficient space heating and cooling technology. There is a large consensus throughout the literature that GSHP systems can reduce operational CO2 emissions by up to 80% in comparison to natural gas furnace (GF) and air conditioner (AC) systems. The literature is limited; however, in regards to the specific environmental impacts associated with the systems, as well as the impacts that occur throughout the systems’ entire life cycle. In this project, a comparative life cycle assessment was conducted to compare a GSHP system with a GF/AC system, examining 14 specific environmental impact categories. Results were consistent with the literature in regards to the operational stage; however the GSHP system displayed a significantly greater overall environmental impact. While these results are specific to the region of Ontario, Canada, they call into question the prevailing opinion that GSHPs are the more environmentally sustainable option.

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Comparative life cycle assessment: ground source heat pump system versus gas furnace and air conditioner system

10.32920/ryerson.14665932.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alisha Kathleen Hunter

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Heat Pump ◽

Ground Source Heat Pump ◽

Air Conditioner ◽

Pump System ◽

Heat Pump System ◽

Ground Source ◽

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are an extremely efficient space heating and cooling technology. There is a large consensus throughout the literature that GSHP systems can reduce operational CO2 emissions by up to 80% in comparison to natural gas furnace (GF) and air conditioner (AC) systems. The literature is limited; however, in regards to the specific environmental impacts associated with the systems, as well as the impacts that occur throughout the systems’ entire life cycle. In this project, a comparative life cycle assessment was conducted to compare a GSHP system with a GF/AC system, examining 14 specific environmental impact categories. Results were consistent with the literature in regards to the operational stage; however the GSHP system displayed a significantly greater overall environmental impact. While these results are specific to the region of Ontario, Canada, they call into question the prevailing opinion that GSHPs are the more environmentally sustainable option.

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Numerical study of the electrical load shift capability of a ground source heat pump system with phase change thermal storage

Energy and Buildings ◽

10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.06.056 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 199 ◽

pp. 235-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H.M. Teamah ◽

M.F. Lightstone

Keyword(s):

Phase Change ◽

Heat Pump ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Thermal Storage ◽

Ground Source Heat Pump ◽

Electrical Load ◽

Pump System ◽

Heat Pump System ◽

Ground Source

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Enhanced Ground Source Heat Pump System With Thermal Storage System

Journal of Energy Resources Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4042403 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 141 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hirotoshi Taira ◽

Takashi Sato ◽

Takao Kakizaki ◽

Masahito Oguma

Keyword(s):

Heat Pump ◽

Heat Load ◽

Thermal Storage ◽

Storage Device ◽

Ground Source Heat Pump ◽

Capacity Control ◽

Pump System ◽

Heat Pump System ◽

Ground Source ◽

Consumption Efficiency

The short-cycling operation of a heat pump decreases energy consumption efficiency. Short-cycling operations of ground source heat pump system (GSHP) occur when the ON/OFF control of a heat pump is used in a partial load condition. It is considered effective that GSHP with capacity controls installs to suppress short-cycling operations. However, there is no report on any continuous operations by capacity control GSHP in actual operations. We confirmed that GSHP (water to water) with capacity control operates short-cycling in the residence. Short-cycling operations occurred with a sudden load fluctuation due to opening or closing of the valves. We conducted effective verification experiments of the thermal storage device at the artificial heat load fluctuations condition. When the thermal storage device installed upstream brine circulation line of the heat pump with the capacity control, continuous operations are performed. It was under the condition at the heating heat load of 5 kW is turned ON/OFF every 20 min. In this case, energy consumption efficiency of a heat pump is 13% higher than the efficiency without the thermal storage device.

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Enhanced Ground Source Heat Pump System With Thermal Storage System

ASME 2018 12th International Conference on Energy Sustainability ◽

10.1115/es2018-7330 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Hirotoshi Taira ◽

Takashi Sato ◽

Takao Kakizaki ◽

Masahito Oguma

Keyword(s):

Heat Pump ◽

Heat Load ◽

Thermal Storage ◽

Storage Device ◽

Ground Source Heat Pump ◽

Capacity Control ◽

Pump System ◽

Heat Pump System ◽

Ground Source ◽

Consumption Efficiency

The short-cycling operation of a heat pump decreases energy consumption efficiency. Short-cycling operations of GSHP (Ground Source Heat Pump System) occur when the ON / OFF control of a heat pump is used a partial load condition. It is considered effective that GSHP with capacity controls installs to suppress short-cycling operations. However, there is no report on any continuous operations by capacity control GSHP in actual operations. We confirmed that GSHP (water to water) with capacity control operates short-cycling in the residence. Short-cycling operations were occurred a sudden load fluctuation due to opening or closing of the valves. We conducted effective verification experiments of the thermal storage device at the artificial heat load fluctuations condition. When the thermal storage device installed upstream brine circulation line of the heat pump with the capacity control, continuous operations are performed. It was under the condition at the heating heat load of 5 kW is turned ON / OFF every 20 minutes. In this case, energy consumption efficiency of a heat pump is 13% higher than the efficiency without the thermal storage device.

Download Full-text