COMPUTATIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC AND THERMAL SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH A HEAT PUMP
Solar energy. PVT-HP. Heat pump.
Studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of PVT-HP systems in specific situations, such as, for example, for heating water for homes in different locations. This research aims to evaluate a photovoltaic and thermal system assisted by a double tank indirect heat pump for domestic water heating in Brazilian locations. Therefore, the computational simulation methodology was used to carry out the project, using the Transient System Simulation – TRNSYS software. A comparison of simulated values with similar bibliographical ones was carried out and the validity of the elaborated systems was verified. The PVT-HP system showed a reduction of approximately 80% in electricity consumption from the grid compared to a fully electric system, and around 70% compared to conventional solar water heating systems. The cities that showed the highest values of electricity savings were Belo Horizonte, Brasília and Florianópolis. The most suitable top and bottom controller deadband temperatures for the project are 1 and 0 °C for the solar loop and 6 and 2 °C for the heat pump loop.