Control strategies for gas absorption heat pumps

According to manufacturers, modern condensing gas boilsers reach gas utilization efficienies of up to 107% (as a function of the lower heating value), which is close to the possible maximu. Significant efficiency improvements in can only be achieved with other more advanced technologies like gas absorption heat pumps. In this case higher primary efficiency ratios are possible due to a gas utilization efficiency in the range of 130 to 170%. However,  due to instalation flaws or poor control strategies seasonal utilization efficiencies may be lower than expected. Within the framework of this monitoring project seasonal utilization efficiencies for gas absorption heat pump systems are investigated in a scientific context.

Due to a new law (EEG 2014) the introduction of gas driven heat pumps in the German market will be accelerated in the following years and can be enforced from the beginning by scientific evaluations of the overall heating system. Especially for new technologies the development of optimized and easy adaptable control strategies is important. For a successful market penetration it is necessary to be aware of and - in a next step - to avoid typical flaws in the installation and controlling of the gas absorption heat pumps.

The goal of this project is to investigate and improve the general energy consumption of gas absorption heat pump systems by taking the example of three field systems (a kindergarten, a residential home and a public swimming pool). The findings of these investigations are validated with the gas absorptions heat pump at a test rig at Technische Universität Berlin. In addition the measurement data of the test rig are used to validate simulation models.

The project started July 2011 and will end in April 2015.

Final report (in German).

The project (No 11320UEOII/2) is funded by the City of Berlin and the European Union within Umweltentlastungsprogramm II