Synthesis of Heat Pump Enhanced Solar Thermal for Low and Medium Temperature Operations
This study presents a multi-period mathematical programming approach for the design and optimization of heat pump-enhanced solar thermal for low and medium temperature applications in industrial, residential and other sectors. Mathematical models which capture the dynamic operating properties and thermodynamic features of combined solar thermal and multi-stage vapour compression heat pump cycle have been developed. The multi-period optimization context of the model accounts for the intermittent variability of relevant meteorological conditions and their effects on heat output from the heat pump. The design and optimization of the integrated system is implemented and solved in GAMS and analysis of the system shows good prospect for enhanced thermal energy from solar. The results obtained show significant increase in the amount of heat recovered from the heat pump as solar collector area increases up to 6,511 m 2 with average heat duty of about 1,615 kW and coefficient of performance of 1.81 obtained for that same collector size.