Economic optimization and parametric analysis of large hybrid ground source heat pump systems: A case study

Abstract

Hybrid ground source heat pump systems offer a solution to reduce initial costs and make systems more economically viable. Their design is however complex and their financial profitability difficult to establish. The design of hybrid system is usually determined by following rough rules and is neither mathematically rigorous nor optimized. In this paper, a methodology recently introduced by the same authors for economic optimization of hybrid ground source heat pump systems is used to carry out a parametric analysis and assess the impact of uncertainty on the optimal design solution. The results show that all the parameters have significant impact on the optimization, and the ground heat exchanger construction costs and ground source heat pump COP had the most impact on the net present value. However trends are difficult to observe because if the non-linear nature of the problem, and thus there is a need for more robust optimization of hybrid GSHP systems under uncertainty.