Optimization of a solar-air source heat pump system in the high-cold and high-altitude area of China

Making full use of renewable energy is one of the efficient tools to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings. This study investigated the performance of a solar-air source heat pump system for a building in the high-cold and high-altitude area of China. A simulation model was established and verified by the measurement results. The annual cost, unit heat cost and annual average solar energy guarantee rate cost were selected as the optimization objectives. The Hooke-Jeeves algorithm was used to optimize the collector area, collector angle, water tank volume, heat pump heating capacity, and heat pump start-stop temperature difference. The energy-saving, environmental and economic benefits were also studied. The results show that the schemes obtained with different optimization objectives were significantly improved compared to the existing design scheme, and the indoor thermal comfort was maintained. Considering the performance of the system and the situation in the high-cold and high-altitude area, the optimization scheme for the annual average solar energy guarantee rate cost was more suitable for the building.