| It has been suggested that coupling heat pumps with conventional solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems has the potential to alleviate many of the disadvantages associated with operating each separately. For example: (1) Solar collectors provide a higher than ambient air temperature heat source for a heat pump, thus increasing its coefficient of performance (COP); and (2) the heat pump reduces the solar collector's operating temperatures thereby reducing heat losses to the environment. This reduced collector operating temperature allows the use of low cost unglazed solar collectors rather than more expensive insulated/glazed units used in most solar heating systems.; The current study compares the thermal performance and operating costs of the indirect solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) hot water heater with three other domestic hot water heating systems. These systems include: a conventional solar domestic hot water heating system, a conventional air-to-water heat pump hot water heater, and an electrically heated hot water tank.; To compare these concepts, computer simulations of the various configurations were conducted using a transient simulation program. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
