Y. Qiao, Z. Li, L. Wang, B. Shen, K.R. Gluesenkamp , X. Liu
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
United States
Keywords: heat pump, thermal energy storage, load shifting, heating and cooling, advanced control
Summary:
Thermal energy storage (TES) integrated with heat pump (HP) systems has garnered significant attention due to its capability to shift loads, thereby enhancing building energy efficiency, facilitating the utilization of renewable energy, and reducing air-conditioning system operating costs. This study integrates a TES unit into a grid-interactive HP system and develops an advanced operational strategy to achieve load shifting during both cooling and heating seasons. Experimental study demonstrates the effective functionality of all six operational modes: conventional heating, heating charging, heating discharging, conventional cooling, cooling charging, and cooling discharging. Furthermore, the year-round load shifting performance is evaluated using a validated model and an advanced control strategy that accounts for time-of-use (TOU) pricing. The results indicate that the dual-function TES-HP system can achieve up to a 50% power reduction in peak hours, highlighting its flexibility and significant potential to enhance grid reliability.