O.2.4.2 Heat pump system control: the potential improvement based on perfect prediction of weather forecast and user occupancy
This paper presents an improvement potential study for residential heat pump heating systems based on predictive rule-based control strategies developed considering the perfect prediction of weather forecast and human behavior information. In particular, the study exploits the profile forecast of Domestic Hot Water (DHW) consumption, ambient temperature and solar radiation. The internal gain contribution due to the user occupancy and activity is also considered adopting a stochastic occupancy profile. The study has been performed by means of TRNSYS numerical simulations and a model of a Ground Source Heat Pump system is here described. The developed model considers a typical single family house including a heat pump unit, an auxiliary heater and a stratified storage tank. A basic degree-minute on-off controller has been adopted as a benchmark. Considering the DHW consumption over the summer season, the improved control logic yields a potential enhancement of indoor temperature stability. With reference to the Swedish heating season, the highest potential in terms of reduction of energy consumption is given by the exploitation of instantaneous and forecasted solar radiation.