Ground Source and Sewage Water Source Heat Pump Systems for Block Heating and Cooling Network

The demand for district heating and cooling systems in block units with a heat pump that utilizes various unused energy sources for energy supply has been increasing. This study investigated experimentally the ground source heat pump (GSHP) and sewage water source heat pump (SWSHP) facilities used in block cooling and heating networks. Then, a heat pump performance prediction model was derived for utilization in future designs. Operational data for heating and cooling energy supply from an experimental site were investigated for the period between 2018 and 2020. During the cooling season, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the GSHP was approximately 4.1, and that of the SWSHP was approximately 2.9. The cooling performance of the SWSHP gradually decreased because of the fouling. The COP of the GSHP and SWSHP during the heating season was approximately 3.6 and 3.4, respectively. The results also demonstrated that, if fouling in the SWSHP can be prevented or reduced, the acquired COP can be similar to that of the GSHP. The derived prediction model serves as a good reference for engineers who require information on the performance of field operations.

Automated summary

This study experimentally investigated the use of ground source heat pump (GSHP) and sewage water source heat pump (SWSHP) facilities in district cooling and heating networks, and derived a heat pump performance prediction model. It was found that fouling affects the cooling performance of SWSHP, and preventing fouling can lead to similar COP as GSHP.