Bibliographic info
Building Simulation, 2013, Chambéry, France
In this study, the feasibility of using thermal buffering enhanced with phase change material (PCM) to enable heat pump load shifting for a typical UK dwelling was investigated by comparing the performance of a buffered, load-shifted heat pump against a reference case. The impact of load shifting on a larger population of heat pumps was also explored. The results indicate that with adequate buffering the operation of a domestic heat pump can be wholly moved to off-peak periods without adversely affecting space or hot water temperatures. The volume of the buffer required could be more than halved using PCM. However, load shifting was associated with a significant energy penalty that negated any economic benefits accruing from a switch to off peak electricity. The study also showed that load shifting of populations of buffered heat pumps could exacerbate peak loading on the electrical network rather than reducing it.
