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Procedia Engineering 00 (2017) 000–000
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Procedia Engineering 205 (2017) 1642–1649

10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, ISHVAC2017, 19-
22 October 2017, Jinan, China

Performance study of a novel hybrid solar PV/T ground-source heat

pump system
Junjie Caia, Zhenhua Quana,b*, Tianyao Lia, Longshu Houa, Yaohua Zhaoa,b, Mengliang
Yaoa
a
a Beijing Key Laboratory of green built environment and energy efficient technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
bb
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Internet Technology, Beijing, Beijing 100124, China

Abstract

A new system based on solar photovoltaic/thermal-ground source heat pump (PV/T-GSHP) was proposed to solve
the problems of energy shortage and high energy-consuming buildings in China. The operation performance of the
PV/T-GSHP system in a demonstration project in Dalian of China was studied and energy saving performance was
analyzed. The results show that this PV/T-GSHP system can reduce the temperature of photovoltaic/thermal
modules as high as 10℃, and improve the efficiency of electricity production by 25%, simultaneously. And in
heating season the average COP of the heat pump remains around 3. Then the model of the PV/T-GSHP system was
established based on the Polysun software, the system parameters were optimized, followed by analyzing the
technical and economic of the project. The optimization data and energy saving effect of this demonstration system
can provide guidance for future related project.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and
Conditioning.
Air Conditioning.
Keywords: ground-source heat pump; solar photovoltaic/thermal; renewable energy

1. Introduction

The rapid development of economy is attributed to the extensive use of the traditional fossil energy and the
resulting worldwide range of energy shortage problem has aroused great attention of countries around the world.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 010-67391608; fax: 010-67391608.

E-mail address: quanzh@126.com

1877-7058 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

1877-7058 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioning.
10.1016/j.proeng.2017.10.324
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Historical data can be found, Chinese building energy consumption accounts for 33% of the total energy
consumption [1], and then caused a huge economic losses and waste of energy. At this stage, actively exploring the
efficient and clean renewable energy is the only way to solve this problem, and the technology of solar energy and
ground source heat pump are the most important research objectives of this project.
The idea of PV/T heat pump which can use the collected solar energy was first proposed by Penrond in 1956 [2].
This type of system has been increasingly recognized since the oil crisis in the 1970 [3], but the technology has not
been widely adopted. Until recent years, the experimental and theoretical results of the PV/T-GSHP system used in
residential and greenhouse heating appear gradually.
This paper is based on previous research of solar PV/T-GSHP and the test of a practical demonstration project site
located in Dalian, which helps to obtain the operating characteristics of the system. By the mean of Polysun software,
the system form and operation strategy were then optimized.

2. Novel solar PV/T-GSHP system

Mainly composed of three parts of the system, as shown in Figure 1: PV/T system [4], heat pump system [5] and
terminal system. Photovoltaic/thermal modules, a heat storage water tank, a solar loop circulating water pump and a
cooling tower composed of the PV/T system. The heat pump system comprises a heat pump unit, a ground source
circulation loop and a circulating water pump. The terminal system is the floor radiation heating pipe-coils in winter
and the fan-coil in summer.

PV/T system Heap pump system Terminal system

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the PVT-GSHP system

The operation principle of the system in winter: water was used as the medium to reduce the PV/T modules’
temperature and thus the photoelectric conversion efficiency was increased, at the same time, the collection of waste
heat is stored in the water tank; the other hand, the heat of PV/T modules and geothermal hot water uptake as low
temperature heat source to the heat pump evaporator and thus the heat pump evaporation temperature is raised to
improve the performance of the heat pump system. The system in the summer operation principle: the ground source
water as a cold source, through the heat pump to absorb indoor heat, and the heat scattered to the ground source
water. the independent cooling tower is used by PV/T modules for cooling, to maintain a higher efficiency of the
power generation. The system in transition season operation principle: the heat of photovoltaic modules is taken
away directly by the ground source water, and in the same time, the heat is transmitted to the soil using this hot
water.
The system has 5 operation modes: solar thermal assisted ground source heat pump heating, solar thermal direct
heating, ground source heat pump for cooling, ground source water direct cooling, the transition period of seasonal
heat storage.
The heat of PV/T modules is collected and used; the temperature of the solar photovoltaic system is reduced and
the power generation efficiency is increased; combined use of solar hot water and the heat pump hot water; the
problem of soil temperature imbalance is solved; comprehensive consideration, the solar photovoltaic power
generation comprehensive cost is reduced using the system, and the complementation of renewable energy use is
realized. So we can say that the system has excellent comprehensive performance.
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3. Performance measurement and analysis of the PV/T-GSHP system

Fig.2 Overview diagram of the system of Dalian

The above PV/T-GSHP system is applied to Qingyun community demonstration project of Dalian. The latitude of
the Dalian is 39 degrees north. Qingyun community cogeneration project is 8.7 meters in height, with a total
construction area of 1288m2. This building is designed for work place and the using time is 8:00 - 17:00. In heating
season, the system runs at low temperatures in night and holiday, and the system start heating an hour ahead of the
office hours in working days.154 new type of photovoltaic-thermal collectors are used in Photovoltaic system
(including a PV module for the comparison item). The maximum power of each PV/T modules is 295W and the
mechanical size is 1990 ൈ990mmൈ50mm, 1.97m2. The placement direction of PV/T modules is from south to
west by 18 degrees and they are arranged in 9 rows, each row of 17 pieces. The total peak power generation is
45.4kW. The selection of heat pump is KHCW-020S-H with a heating capacity 79.4kW, cooling capacity 71.8kW
and its input power (cool/heat) 13.4kW/18.2kW. The terminal system is the floor radiation heating pipe-coils in
winter and the fan-coil in summer.
The photovoltaic modules and the contrast module are arranged a temperature measuring point behind and the
water tank is arranged two temperature measuring points. In the photovoltaic system, a photovoltaic power
generation measuring device is arranged.

3.1. Photovoltaic performance analysis of the modules

Fig.3 PV and PV/T modules’ temperature in winter

Fig.3 shows PV/T modules’ temperature and the temperature of PV module without water cooled in a heating
quarter from November 3rd to April 5th. As the diagram shows, the module without water cooled and the PV/T
modules have a big difference in the temperature in the beginning and the end of the heating period when the
ambient temperature is relatively high. We can conclude that the efficiency of the system is higher compared with
traditional photovoltaic power generation.
Throughout the 2015 heating period, the system electricity production reached 20076kWh and the highest power
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generation was produced in March.

The experiment was conducted on Mar. 12, and the data of solar irradiance and ambient temperature is shown in
Fig. 5. According to the performance comparison of power generation and the analysis of modules’ temperature
between PV modules and PV/T modules as shown in the Fig.6, we can see that the highest temperature of PV
modules reaches 38℃, and the PV/T modules’ temperature is dropped to 28℃, fell to 26%. As shown in Fig.7, on
March 12 the average power generation efficiency of the PV/T modules was 11%, while the PV modules production
efficiency was 9%. Thus, the power generation efficiency of the PV/T modules is increased 22.2% attributed to the
effect of water-cooling. The PV/T modules’ highest power generation efficiency reaches 15% at noon. During the
8:00-17:00 the PV/T modules’ power generation capacity is 173.8kWh.

Fig.4 Winter power generation Fig.5 Ambient parameter variation with time

Fig.6 PV/T and PV module’s temperature Fig.7 Power generation efficiency with times

3.2. Thermal performance of the modules

As shown in Fig.8, PV/T modules in the process of testing temperature changes with solar irradiance, increases
firstly, reaches the highest at noon and then decreases. As water in the heat collection tank will take away the heat of
the battery, so the maximum temperature of the battery is not more than 30℃, and actually the average temperature
is 21.2℃. PV/T modules’ temperature difference between inlet and outlet increases firstly which corresponds to
the increase of solar irradiance, and then remains stable at 12:30. Finally, the temperature decreases after 12:30 due
to the solar irradiance decreases and the temperature of tank increases. In 16:00, the temperature of the inlet and
outlet tends to be consistent. As shown in Fig.9, experimental process due to the low initial tank water temperature
(9℃) which has a great difference with the PV/T modules’ temperature, the collecting efficiency is increased
gradually and then reaches the highest efficiency, 41%. The average collecting efficiency is 28%. The initial water
temperature of the heat collection water tank is about 9℃, and the maximum temperature is 16.5℃. In most of the
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time, due to the combine of the PV/T modules and the ground-source heat pump system, the temperature keeps
stable around 16℃. This system makes the water maintained at a low temperature and the photovoltaic electricity
production efficiency is improved, and can as the low-temperature heat source of heat pump, reflecting the
outstanding characteristic of system.

Fig.8 The PV/T modules’ temperature and the temperature difference between imports and exports (at left)

Fig.9 Liquid temperature in water tank and heat collecting efficiency with times (at right)

4. The simulation and optimization of PV/T-GSHP system performance

The system was simulated by a software called Polysun [6], which enables users to effectively simulate solar-
thermal, photovoltaic and geothermal systems.

4.1. The simulation model of PV/T-GSHP system

Fig.10 (a), (b) show the simulation model of Qingyun community PV/T-GSHP system in the winter and summer
respectively. The simulation model was established by Polysun and the parameters of the components in the
simulation model are same to the real system.

Fig.10(a) Winter simulation model based on Polysun Fig.10(b) Summer simulation model based on Polysun

4.2. Performance simulation and verification of PV/T-GSHP system

First, the system is simulated based on Polysun, and then we need to verify the accuracy of the model. Through
the investigation and analysis of history data, if the difference between simulate data and actual data obtained less
than 15%, it can prove the accuracy of the model. Take the actual and simulate power generation of each month in
Fig.11 to do the calculation: (total simulate generation power - total actual generation power) / total actual power
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generation = (40079-35750.41) /35750.41=11.9%. The percentage of the difference between the actual and the
simulated power generation in each month is less than 15%, so the reliability of the simulation system is proved.
Take the data of ten days in March in heating season to do the comparison on the actual temperature of the water
tank and simulate the temperature of the water tank. We take the average value in the water tank temperature in the
working time from 7:00- 17:00. The difference of actual data and simulated data of nine days in March is less than
15%. Polysun uses the climate parameters which are the average value in recent years, so the simulation data is very
reliable.

Fig.11 The comparison of PV/T energy generation Fig.12 The comparison of temperature of tank

4.3. The optimization of operating parameters and system components

The system consists of 153 PV/T modules, and the tilt angle of the modules are 40 degrees, the direction is from
south to west by 18 degrees. The volume of hot water tank is 8000L, and ground-source heat pump buried tube
spacing is 5 m. We simulate and optimize the solar module inclination angle, the tank volume and the ground source
heat pump buried pipe spacing. Meanwhile, in order to reduce system operating costs, we optimize the operation
strategy of the system, such as the combined operation of the heat pump, changing the flow of the circulating
medium and the change of the temperature of the water tank electric heating start off.

Optimization of tilt angle of photovoltaic modules

Fig.13 shows the power consumption of PV/T modules at different angles in Dalian heating season from March to
November. We can find except January, the 50-degree angle integrated energy consumption is the lowest and 45-
degree follows. But the PV/T modules angle can’t be determined only by the amount of the energy has been saved,
because the PV/T modules laying on the roof of the building, the area of the building is limited, and we also should
ensure that solar modules without occlusion problem when the highest irradiance. The building’s roof area is 630m2
where we need to also set aside for future maintenance and cooling tower and water pump. When the PV module
angle is 50-degree, 153 PV/T modules cover an area of 610m2, so the remaining area cannot meet the needs of the
others. Thus we decide the angle of PV/T module is 45-degree for the best.
Compared the optimizing angle of PV/T modules with the original 40-degree of this system as shown in the
Fig.14. We find both photovoltaic output and heat supply for the system are on the rise; the fuel or power
consumption of the system is declined. In a heating period, the 45-degree photovoltaic modules can save 218kWh
power and also increase the 438kWh PV output power.
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Fig.13 Energy saving in different tilt angle of PV module Fig.14 Energy flow of the system of PV/T modules

Optimization of water tank volume

In the system of the PV/T-GSHP, the volume of the water tank is a very important reference factor, because if the
tank volume is larger, the system can use the stored solar thermal better in the evening and if the water tank volume
is smaller this project will not possible to use the solar energy at night. Fig.15 shows that the increasing trend of
solar thermal energy and photovoltaic output power is consistent. They both reach the max value when the volume
of the water tank is 8500L. From Fig.16 the result shows that that when the volume of the tank reaches 8500L, the
total energy saving is the maximum. Therefore, it can be considered that the system has an optimal tank volume of
8500L.

Fig.15 Solar fraction and power generation Fig.16 Energy saving

The optimization of heat pump

The heat capacity of this heat pump is 79.4KW and input power is 18.2 KW; the cooling capacity of the heat
pump is 71.8KW, input power is 13.4KW. However, after the operation of the Polysun software for the winter
simulation found that the average daily 2-3 hours of heat pump efficiency is no higher than 50%, which will cause a
waste of energy. So the optimization strategy is used two small heat pump unit (each one of 40 kW) to instead of a
large heat pump unit. In the case of good weather conditions, we can use a small heat pump unit, which can work
with in higher COP. The use of two small heat pump can save up to 3000kWh of electricity per heating period.
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4.4. System technical and economic analysis

Compared with the conventional system, the PV/T-GSHP system is characterized by high initial investment and
low operating cost. The initial investment is due to the PV/T-GSHP system in the conventional energy supply
system to increase the PV/T system. The low operating cost is because of the full use of the energy provided by the
sun and ground hot water, reducing the consumption of conventional energy. So the investment and income of the
system needs to do further analysis. So the system’s investment and earnings to conduct a comprehensive analysis
[7]. The total investment of the system is 529 thousand RMB. Compared with the use of natural gas collective
heating system, in a heating period this system can save 67090 RMB and the payback period is 7.9 years. Compared
with the electric heating system, the system can save 86550 RMB and the payback period is 6.1 years. And the
average age of our system is 15 years so the payback period is suitable and acceptable.
In view of the simulation data analysis, the improved system, not only shorten payback period, and in terms of
energy saving, environmental protection compared with the mainstream of the heating and cooling system has a
great advantage. Taking into account the favorable conditions such as policy subsidies, this research PV/T-GSHP
system will have better prospects for development.

5. Conclusion

A new PV / T-GSHP system was designed for applying in Dalian demonstration projects. The system was tested
and the data were analyzed. Then, the system performance was simulated by Poysun software, so the optimized
parameters could be obtained.
According to the data analysis, generating efficiency of PV/T collector could increase by 22.2% as well as the
maximum temperature of PV module decreasing by 30% compared to PV collector without cool water.
After finishing the data analysis and optimization for PV/T-GSHP system of Qingyun community, this paper
determines that the best PV/T modules angle is 45, tank volume is 8500L. Optimization of the system operation
strategy: a 78kW heat pump should be changed to two heat for the 40kW heat pump joint operation.

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