Development and performance evaluation of intelligent algorithm for optimal control of a hybrid heat pump system during the cooling season

The purpose of this study is to develop a control method for a hybrid heat pump system based on an artificial neural network (ANN) to reduce energy use and create a more comfortable thermal environment. The proposed optimal control method uses an ANN-based predictive model to predict the heat storage tank and indoor temperature during the cooling period and controls the flow rate of the circulation pump on the heat source and load side of the system. The performance of the predictive model for the heat storage tank temperature (R2 = 0.9988; coefficient of variation of the root mean square error [CV(RMSE)] = 1.06 %; normalized mean bias error [NMBE] = 0.16 %; and mean absolute error [MAE] = 0.09℃) and the indoor temperature (R2 = 0.9893; CV(RMSE) = 1.66 %; NMBE = 0.16 %; and MAE = 0.15℃) was excellent. The temperature control of the heat storage tank using the optimal algorithm exhibited an improvement of 18.39 % for the CV(RMSE), 3.10 % for the NMBE, and 1.31 °C for MAE compared with rule-based. For the indoor temperature, the optimal algorithm improved the CV(RMSE) by 1.30 %, NMBE by 0.42 %, and MAE by 0.29℃ compared to rule-based. The energy use was reduced by 52.85 % for the entire system using the optimal control method compared with the existing control strategy under similar outdoor conditions. Using the proposed control method, it is thus possible to improve thermal comfort and reduce carbon emissions in the building sector by improving the control and energy performance of hybrid heat pump systems.