State of the Art on Heat Pumps for Residential Buildings

Abstract

Heat Pumps are becoming one of the most considered mechanical conditioning equipment in our buildings. While they are popular, there appears to be quite a vast range of system types and applications in building conditioning. This paper primarily reviews the literature on heat pumps, the various types, and the consideration of design end uses. The fact that there are different energy sources for heat pumps is considered, as well as the different sinks in which energy is stored or dissipated. It is evident that advanced heat pump systems cater well to the use of renewable energy resources. Therefore, in the move towards net-zero energy building operation, the correct selection of a heat pump can help to increase self-consumption of solar PV generation and even make use of direct solar energy heating. This paper reviews the technologies for heat pump selection, application, and design for residential buildings.

Replacing gas boilers with heat pumps is the fastest way to cut German gas consumption

“…A crucial question is whether more gas can be substituted by installing heat pumps instead of continuing to heat with gas and using the additional renewable electricity to reduce the load hours of existing gas-fired power plants. This depends on the achievable coefficient of performance (COP) of heat pumps, which is the heat generated divided by the electric power required for it 25,26 , and needs to be compared to the efficiency of gas-fired power stations.…”

Energy Performance Analysis of R32 and R134a Refrigerant for Spring Pool Water Heater

“…One notable advantage of heat pumps is their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional heating and cooling systems that rely on fossil fuels [7]. By utilizing the ambient heat from the environment, heat pumps minimize the need for direct combustion of fossil fuels [8], thereby reducing costs, greenhouse gas emissions [9] and contributing to environmental sustainability [10,11]. Additionally, since heat pumps primarily rely on electricity for their operation, they offer the potential for utilizing renewable energy sources, further enhancing their environmental benefits.…”

Analysis of Heat Pumps Efficiency in Selected Locations – A Case Study

“…To prevent the deepening of the energy crisis and climate change, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have adopted some directives and introduced special regulations, which forced member states to reduce carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases emissions by 2050. Heat pumps -due to their high efficiency -enable a reduction in primary and final energy consumption, as well as harmful emissions compared to conventional sources (such as gas, coal, or oil boilers), contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector and improving the energy performance of buildings, which is essential to achieve the 2050 goals [2]. They extract thermal energy from the environment (ground, air, water) and use it to heat or cool a circulating medium in an upper heat source such as heating or cooling system.…”

“…Wang et al [2] provided a systematic literature review of different heat pumps used in the residential sector, as well as their contribution to decarbonizing the energy sector and reaching the target of nearly zero-energy buildings. They also discussed heat pump applications, such as coupling with thermal storage systems or photovoltaic systems (which increased operating cost savings), as well as considered environmental aspects of their use.…”