This work involves measurements, analyses, and evaluation of performance of air-source heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), and their impacts on electric utility loads. Two add-on, heat pumps (HPs) rated at 7000 BTU/h (2.051 kW) and 12,000 BTU/h (3.517 kW) were utilized. The HPs were retrofitted to two 50 gal (189.3 l) electric water heaters (EWHs) with their electric heating elements removed. A third standard EWH was used for comparison. The testing setups were fully instrumented for measurements of all pertinent parameters, including inlet and outlet water temperatures, inlet and outlet air temperatures of the HPs, temperature and humidity of the surrounding air, volume of water drawn out of the storage tanks, as well as the electric energy consumptions of the systems. Performance measures evaluated included the coefficient of performance, the energy factor (EF), and the first hour rating (FHR). The HPWH systems gave EFs ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 and corresponding energy savings (and reductions in utility peak loads) ranging from 49.0% to 63.0%, approximately. The values obtained in the summer months were, as expected, somewhat higher than those obtained in the winter ones. The average values of the EFs and energy savings (and reductions in utility peak loads) were about 2.1 and 56.0%, respectively. FHR results were much lower for the HPWHs compared with those for the standard EWH. These results show that HPWHs are much more efficient compared with standard EWHs. While the average value of the EF for the EWH was about 0.92, the HPWHs yielded EFs averaging more than 2.00, resulting in annual energy savings averaging more than 50%. The results also show that HPWHs are effective at reducing utility peak loads, in addition to providing substantial cost savings to consumers.
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June 2010
Research Papers
Performance of Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Systems and Their Impacts on Electric Utility Loads
Yahya I. Sharaf-Eldeen
Yahya I. Sharaf-Eldeen
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: eldeen@fit.edu
Florida Institute of Technology
, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901
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Yahya I. Sharaf-Eldeen
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Florida Institute of Technology
, 150 West University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901e-mail: eldeen@fit.edu
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Jun 2010, 2(2): 021008 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 1, 2010
Article history
Received:
June 13, 2010
Revised:
September 30, 2010
Online:
November 1, 2010
Published:
November 1, 2010
Citation
Sharaf-Eldeen, Y. I. (November 1, 2010). "Performance of Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Systems and Their Impacts on Electric Utility Loads." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. June 2010; 2(2): 021008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002757
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