Performance evaluation of an indirect solar assisted heat pump system for domestic hot water production

In this work, a newly designed solar assisted heat pump (SAHP) for domestic hot water use was investigated theoretically and experimentally under the meteorological conditions of London, UK. The system consists of an evacuated tube collector of the heat pipe-type, R404A heat pump, hot water cylinder and some auxiliary components. The solar thermal loop running with or without the heat pump integration was designed, constructed and measured at different ambient conditions and operating parameters. Simultaneously a model for the solar thermal loop using the TRNSYS software was developed and validated using experimental results from the test facility. The validated model was applied to predict and evaluate the system operation during all year round when hot water demand profile was employed as in a typical European domestic dwelling.