M.Ing. / In this study the performance of a reversible ground-source heat pump, coupled to a municipal water reticulation system, is compared experimentally and with simulations with a conventional air-source heat pump for space cooling and heating. A typical municipal water reticulation system comprises hundreds of kilometres of pipes designed in loops that will ensure adequate circulation of the water. This results in a substantial heat exchanger with great potential. Indirect heat transfer occurs between the refrigerant and ground via the municipal water reticulation system that acts as the water-to-ground heat exchanger. The experimental and simulated comparisons of the ground-source system to the air-source system are conducted in both the cooling and heating cycles. Climatalogical statistics are used to calculate the capacities and coefficients of performance of the ground-source and air-source heat pumps. Results obtained from measurements and simulations indicate that the utilisation of municipal water reticulation systems as a heat source/sink is a viable method of optimising energy usage in the air-conditioning industry, especially when used in the heating mode.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:1722 |
| Date | 23 November 2011 |
| Creators | De Swardt, Christiaan Alexander |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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