Analysis in a Test Bench for Geothermal Heat Pump with Simultaneous Production of Domestic Hot Water with Heating or Cooling and Efficiency Improvements

Abstract

Within the lines of collaboration between the University of Vigo and EnergyLab has been developed the research project of this communication. The main objective of this project has been analyze the energetic operation of a commercial reversible water-water heat pump to residential use in a test bench, with simultaneous production of both heating and domestic hot water (DHW) and cooling and DHW. It has also been studied the adaptation of new components of the heat pump for optimum performance in normal working conditions of geothermal heat pump (GHP) with closed geothermal capture.
This communication describes the detail of design and assembly of a test bench (hydraulic systems, electrical system, control system, data acquisition and processing...) necessary for carrying out the tests on the commercial equipment and on the new developed prototype. Main changes have been the introduction of a new heat exchanger in the cooling circuit between the gas and liquid phases of the R407C coolant besides a bigger thermostatic expansion valves.
Between the project results have been analyzed the trials over the commercial heat pump, the pattern of behavior of this equipment and the realized improvements on this model. The implementation of efficiency improvements in the new prototype and the carrying out of tests has allowed to obtain better results of his coefficients of performance and to assess the optimization of the new prototype.