TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy, economic, and environmental evaluation of a solar-assisted heat pump integrated with photovoltaic thermal modules using low-GWP refrigerants
AU - Kim, Jinyoung
AU - Lee, Minwoo
AU - Lee, Dongchan
AU - Han, Changho
AU - Kim, Yongchan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Solar-assisted heat pumps integrated with photovoltaic thermal modules (PVT-HPs) have been extensively studied owing to their superior heating performance. However, the investigation of PVT-HPs using low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants to replace R134a is required to comply with environmental regulations. This study aimed to investigate the substitutability of R1234yf, R1234ze(E), and R152a in PVT-HPs based on energy, economic, and environmental analyses. The heating performance of heat pumps using these low-GWP refrigerants was measured. Furthermore, transient simulations were performed using transient system simulation software to determine the annual performance of the PVT-HPs using low-GWP refrigerants. Based on the simulation results, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and Specific Life Cycle Climate Performance (SLCCP) were evaluated. R152a was the most economical refrigerant, showing a 50% reduction in LCOE compared to R134a because of its lower electricity purchase cost and higher sale cost. Furthermore, the SLCCPs of PVT-HPs using R1234yf, R1234ze(E), and R152a decreased by 16.8%, 17.5%, and 20.8%, respectively, compared to those using R134a. Accordingly, the refrigerant substitutability index of R152a was the highest at 1.431, owing to its superior economic and environmental performance. In conclusion, only R152a was deemed appropriate for replacing R134a in PVT-HPs.
AB - Solar-assisted heat pumps integrated with photovoltaic thermal modules (PVT-HPs) have been extensively studied owing to their superior heating performance. However, the investigation of PVT-HPs using low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants to replace R134a is required to comply with environmental regulations. This study aimed to investigate the substitutability of R1234yf, R1234ze(E), and R152a in PVT-HPs based on energy, economic, and environmental analyses. The heating performance of heat pumps using these low-GWP refrigerants was measured. Furthermore, transient simulations were performed using transient system simulation software to determine the annual performance of the PVT-HPs using low-GWP refrigerants. Based on the simulation results, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and Specific Life Cycle Climate Performance (SLCCP) were evaluated. R152a was the most economical refrigerant, showing a 50% reduction in LCOE compared to R134a because of its lower electricity purchase cost and higher sale cost. Furthermore, the SLCCPs of PVT-HPs using R1234yf, R1234ze(E), and R152a decreased by 16.8%, 17.5%, and 20.8%, respectively, compared to those using R134a. Accordingly, the refrigerant substitutability index of R152a was the highest at 1.431, owing to its superior economic and environmental performance. In conclusion, only R152a was deemed appropriate for replacing R134a in PVT-HPs.
KW - Alternative refrigerant
KW - Global warming potential
KW - Life cycle climate performance
KW - Photovoltaic thermal module
KW - Solar-assisted heat pump
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85167394451&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117512
DO - 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117512
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85167394451
SN - 0196-8904
VL - 293
JO - Energy Conversion and Management
JF - Energy Conversion and Management
M1 - 117512
ER -