A holistic, simulation-based approach to integrating heat pumps into building energy systems
Heat pump technology is a key driver in transforming the building heating sector. The TEN.efzn research project aims to design a novel, flexible plug & play heat pump module that is adaptable to various applications - from single-family houses to apartment buildings, in both centralized and decentralized setups, and across different climatic regions in Germany. To ensure robust design, simulation models are employed, offering efficient analysis under diverse boundary conditions. A detailed heat pump model is required to represent real refrigeration circuit components and analyse thermodynamic behaviour under varying loads. Dymola, based on the Modelica language, provides an extensive library for this purpose. However, coupling weather-data-driven building simulations in Dymola is complex. TRNSYS, on the other hand, excels at generating load profiles for different building types and simulating complete energy systems, including heating circuits, storage tanks, and renewables. To leverage the strengths of both tools, they will be interconnected. This coupling is achieved through a Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU), enabling time-synchronized cosimulation. At each time step, data such as mass flows, temperatures, and control signals are exchanged between TRNSYS and the FMU. Challenges arise in integrating the detailed FMU heat pump into TRNSYS, as additional input parameters and strict limit states complicate compatibility. Both programs must adapt to each other’s characteristics, requiring iterative collaboration among research partners