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Title: Recovery act. Development of design and simulation tool for hybrid geothermal heat pump system

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1186030· OSTI ID:1186030
 [1];  [1]
  1. ClimateMaster, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK (United States)

The ground source heat pump (GSHP) system is one of the most energy efficient HVAC technologies in the current market. However, the heat imbalance may degrade the ability of the ground loop heat exchanger (GLHX) to absorb or reject heat. The hybrid GSHP system, which combines a geothermal well field with a supplemental boiler or cooling tower, can balance the loads imposed on the ground loop heat exchangers to minimize its size while retaining superior energy efficiency. This paper presents a recent simulation-based study with an intention to compare multiple common control strategies used in hybrid GSHP systems, including fixed setpoint, outside air reset, load reset, and wetbulb reset. A small office in Oklahoma City conditioned by a hybrid GSHP system was simulated with the latest version of eQUEST 3.7[1]. The simulation results reveal that the hybrid GSHP system has the excellent capability to meet the cooling and heating setpoints during the occupied hours, balance thermal loads on the ground loop, as well as improve the thermal comfort of the occupants with the undersized well field.

Research Organization:
ClimateMaster, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
DOE Contract Number:
EE0002799
OSTI ID:
1186030
Report Number(s):
DE-EE0002799 Final Scientific Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English