Multi-objective optimization of solar-assisted ground-source heat pumps for minimizing life-cycle cost and climate performance in heating-dominated regions

Minwoo Lee, Se Hyeon Ham, Sewon Lee, Jinyoung Kim, Yongchan Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The use of solar-assisted ground-source heat pumps (SGSHPs) with serial and parallel configurations can reduce the energy consumption compared with conventional ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs). However, the environmental and economic issues associated with SGSHPs, which involve high initial costs and CO2 emissions, remain major barriers to their application. Therefore, SGSHPs should be carefully designed considering both the economic and environmental circumstances to guarantee their competitiveness over GSHPs. In this study, multi-objective optimization of SGSHPs with serial and parallel configurations was conducted to minimize the life-cycle cost (LCC) and climate performance (LCCP). Based on the estimated energy consumption using Transient System Simulation Tool (TRNSYS), the design parameters and refrigerants of the SGSHPs were optimized using an artificial neural network and multi-objective genetic algorithm in the four heating-dominated regions. The optimized SGSHP with a parallel configuration exhibited lower LCC and LCCP by up to 7% and 10%, respectively, compared to that with a serial configuration. Furthermore, as building insulation technology improves, the optimal system size decreases. In addition, R134a is the best option for minimizing LCC owing to its high performance, whereas R1234yf is the best option for minimizing LCCP in Helsinki and Stockholm, showing up to a 37% reduction in LCCP.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number126868
    JournalEnergy
    Volume270
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2023 May 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

    Keywords

    • Heating-dominated regions
    • Life-cycle climate performance
    • Life-cycle cost
    • Refrigerant
    • Solar-assisted ground-source heat pump

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Civil and Structural Engineering
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
    • Building and Construction
    • Fuel Technology
    • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
    • Pollution
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • General Energy
    • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
    • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Multi-objective optimization of solar-assisted ground-source heat pumps for minimizing life-cycle cost and climate performance in heating-dominated regions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this