This paper presents a study which was conducted to evaluate the performance of a commercially available heat pump water heater (HPWH) with modified controls. The HPWH is first characterized experimentally under a series of different thermal conditions and draw parameters. The test tank contains a 1500 W electric auxiliary heater that provides on demand heat to the top 0.30 m (1 ft) of the tank, and a wrap-around heating coil. An air source heat pump (ASHP), using R-134A as the refrigerant, draws air from, and returns air to the surrounding space and provides heating to the whole tank through the coil. The tank has been tested using Canadian Standards Association draw profiles to characterize performance under different hot water demands. Electricity consumption and thermal flux is measured for each vertical tank section, and various performance metrics are calculated using energy balances. A trnsys model is then calibrated to the experimental data to allow for the flexibility of varying multiple parameters over various climates. Using this calibrated trnsys model, an optimal control strategy and tank setpoints can be determined for use in cold climates. As expected from previous work, there is a decrease in performance of the HP when heating the tank to higher temperatures to facilitate thermal storage, but the benefits from taking advantage of shifting electrical demand (of water heating) to space heating demand can outweigh the loss of performance.
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February 2016
Research-Article
Heat Pump Water Heater Control Strategy Optimization for Cold Climates
Jayson Bursill,
Jayson Bursill
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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Cynthia A. Cruickshank
Cynthia A. Cruickshank
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Jayson Bursill
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Cynthia A. Cruickshank
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: INCLUDING WIND ENERGY AND BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION. Manuscript received July 27, 2015; final manuscript received November 24, 2015; published online December 22, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Jorge E. Gonzalez.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2016, 138(1): 011011 (8 pages)
Published Online: December 22, 2015
Article history
Received:
July 27, 2015
Revised:
November 24, 2015
Citation
Bursill, J., and Cruickshank, C. A. (December 22, 2015). "Heat Pump Water Heater Control Strategy Optimization for Cold Climates." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2016; 138(1): 011011. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032144
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