Advancing sustainable heating performance and energy efficiency through optimized solar-assisted air-source heat pump with flat plate micro-heat pipe

Abstract

Limited system capacities and poor controllability can sometimes limit the significant potential of solar energy for sustainable heating, leading to inefficiencies. This study introduces an optimized solar-assisted air-source heat pump (SACHP) system that incorporates flat plate micro-heat pipes (FMHPs) to improve heating efficiency and regulation. Experimental findings demonstrate that the SACHP-FMHP system surpassed conventional approaches—specifically, standard air-source heat pump systems without thermal enhancement mechanisms such as FMHP—exhibiting substantial improvements in temperature and energy efficiency. Peak heating occurred at 8921 h with a temperature increase in 3.6 °C, while the minimum rise was 2.5 °C at 8497 h, indicating greater performance under identical operational conditions compared to conventional systems. The enhancements increased heating performance by minimizing energy waste and attaining greater energy conversion efficiency, thereby addressing significant challenges in solar-assisted heating. We achieved optimal temperature and energy consumption management at a water temperature of 43 °C and a compressor operation of 16 h at 0.9 kW. The device demonstrated strong regulation of temperature increases and energy usage, precisely matching actual heating requirements. The improved SACHP-FMHP system efficiently harnesses solar energy, minimizing energy waste and environmental pollution while aiding in the prevention of global warming. The findings suggest its potential for scalability and sustainable applications in industrial and residential heating, underscoring its need for further integration into environmentally responsible energy systems.