Analysis of a Coupled Air-Based Solar Collector and Heat Pump Water Heater in Canada and the United States
Abstract
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) have limited market share in Canada largely due to their space cooling effect which is prohibitive during Canadian winters but may be mitigated by coupling with solar collectors. This study experimentally and numerically examined air-based solar collectors and their impact on HPWHs in Canada with the objective of determining the feasibility of solar assisted HPWHs in the country. An air-based solar collector was used in an experimentally validated TRNSYS model of the combined system, and design parameters such as collector area were modified to minimize the space cooling effect. The results indicate that even on days of low insolation, cooling may be offset with less than 7 m2 of solar collector area. Canadian locations where solar-assisted HPWHs are economically feasible for offsetting the cooling effect of HPWHs were determined within this study.