Performance of ground-source heat pump systems in cold regions: a case study

ABSTRACT: Ground-source heat pump (GSHP) systems are known to be environmentally-friendly technology for heat and air conditioning purposes. The thermal capacity of GSHPs depends on site conditions and are specific to the system parameters. Numerical simulations, e.g., finite element analysis can be used to predict the performance of such systems, by taking most of these parameters into account. In this study, the ground heat exchangers of a closed-loop GSHP system in Winnipeg Smart Park at the University of Manitoba were simulated in 3D, using COMSOL. Two operational scenarios were studied. The simulations calculated the maximum heat extraction and injection powers of 1.8 kW and 1.2 kW per exchanger, respectively. The results indicate that the performance of exchangers varies throughout the year, and such simulations can be a useful tool for calculation of system capacity for different configurations.