Solar-assisted heat pump systems and energy storage

Abstract An experimental solar-assisted heat pump system with solar energy storage in encapsulated phase change material (PCM) packings at the Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon, Turkey is described. It includes 30 m2 solar collectors, a latent-heat thermal energy storage tank filled with PCM, a heat exchanger, a heat pump with double evaporators and condenser, and a conventional air conditioning channel. We have analyzed the system's behavior from July to August, 1990. The data processed has shown that each of the systems has apparently performed adequately. Collector efficiency is 0.80, heat pump coefficient of performance range is around 7, and the storage efficiency reaches 0.60. When the investigations are accomplished, we will publish the experimental results in detail.