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Towards efficient and cost-effective heating and cooling through single-split air conditioners as hybrid solutions in existing buildings.

Number: 2304

Author(s) : BREUER K., VERING C., MÜLLER D.

Summary

In the pursuit of Germany's 2045 greenhouse gas neutrality goal, one focus is on decarbonizing the building sector, particularly exchanging emission-intensive heating systems. While improving building insulation and adopting heat pumps is energetically ideal, the associated high costs pose accessibility challenges. To address this issue and simultaneously maintain thermal comfort while reducing overall emissions, hybrid heating systems promise to detach renovation from investments in new technologies for the entire building. In this context, there is a need to evaluate the potential of hybrid systems in existing buildings.
This study proposes a cost-effective alternative for reducing emissions and enhancing comfort in existing buildings. Through dynamic simulations, we assess the integration of a single-split air conditioner in the living room of a single-family house, working in tandem with an existing gas-condensing boiler. Various systems are modeled, including reference setups with a gas-condensing boiler and an air-to-water heat pump, alongside three hybrid configurations with the air conditioner sized at 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the living room's heating load. All systems are evaluated in two locations, employing ecological, economic, and comfort criteria.
Results from simulations in Düsseldorf indicate that the combination of a gas-condensing boiler and a minimally sized air-conditioning unit yields the highest reduction in emissions. For 15 years, economic analysis has shown that hybrid systems are more cost-effective compared to the reference scenarios with stand-alone gas-condensing boilers or stand-alone air-to-water heat pumps. Winter comfort concerns are minimal and can likely be mitigated through parameter optimization, while all hybrid systems significantly enhance summer comfort through active cooling.
In summary, this study highlights the considerable potential of hybrid systems to deliver cost-effective, comfortable heating and cooling solutions in existing buildings to reduce emissions. Future research should delve into airflow dynamics, humidity, and additional analyses to optimize and seamlessly integrate this promising hybrid solution.

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  • Original title: Towards efficient and cost-effective heating and cooling through single-split air conditioners as hybrid solutions in existing buildings.
  • Record ID : 30033183
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: 2024 Purdue Conferences. 19th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2024/07/17

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