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

5 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

Funding Information:
This work was supported by Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government ( MOTIE ) ( 20212020800070 ).

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
  • Energy(all)
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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