Energetic, economic and environmental (3E) optimization of solar assisted heat pump using low GWP refrigerant R1234ze(E) for high temperature application

Abstract

A combination of solar thermal collectors and heat pumps in a solar assisted heat pump for high temperature application at 105oC is modeled and optimized. The model is designed by using Matlab software. The optimization procedure, coefficient of performance and total cost becomes the objective functions while the evaporating temperature, suction compressor temperature and condensing temperature are selected as constraints. Multi objective genetic algorithm is used to find the optimum value of those selected constraints. The optimization is performed by using a low GWP refrigerant, R1234ze (E). The result showed that an evaporating temperature of 319 K, suction compressor temperature of 372 K and condensing temperature of 379 K indicated the optimum condition of solar assisted heat pump with COP of 5.04 and total cost of 82,678 US$.