Parametric sensitivity study for solar-assisted heat-pump systems. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6325425· OSTI ID:6325425

White, N M; Morehouse, J H

A sensitivity study is performed of the engineering and economic parameters affecting life-cycle costs for solar-assisted heat pump systems. The change in energy usage resulting from each engineering parameter varied has been developed from computer simulations, and is compared with results from a stand-alone heat pump system. Three geographical locations are considered: Washington, DC, Fort Worth, TX, and Madison, WI. Results indicate that most engineering changes to the systems studied do not provide significant energy savings. The most promising parameters to vary are the solar collector parameters tau ..cap alpha.. and U/sub L/ the heat pump capactiy at design point, and the minimum utilizable evaporator temperature. Costs associated with each change are estimated, and life-cycle costs computed for both engineering parameters and economic variations in interest rate, discount rate, tax credits, fuel unit costs and fuel inflation rates. Results indicate that none of the feasible engineering changes for the system configuration studied will make these systems economically competitive with the stand-alone heat pump without a considerable tax credit.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States); Science Applications, Inc., McLean, VA (USA). Solar Technology Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 6325425
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-98288-1; ON: DE81030309
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR-ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
INTEREST RATE
LIFE-CYCLE COST
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE
T CODES
TAX CREDITS
TEXAS
WASHINGTON DC
WISCONSIN
AIR CONDITIONERS
COST
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
GREAT LAKES REGION
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING SYSTEMS
NORTH AMERICA
SIMULATION
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONERS
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOUTHWEST REGION
USA
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling