Energy, exergy, economic, and environmental (4E) analysis of SAHP water heaters in very cold climatic conditions

Solar-assisted heat pumps (SAHPs) are emerging as promising solutions for space/water heating. Compared to conventional air-source heat pumps (ASHPs), SAHPs show superior thermal performance in cold climates where ambient air temperatures are below freezing most of the heating season. However, given the inherent variability of solar energy, SAHPs have poor thermal performance to meet the load requirements during periods of weak solar radiation. To enhance the reliability of SAHPs, an air-source evaporator can be integrated with a SAHP, forming a dual SAHP – ASHP system with better performance. In this research, the energy, exergy, environmental, and economic performance of a dual-source solar/air source heat pump, which provides hot water for a typical Canadian household, is investigated. The performance of the system is compared with a solar-assisted direct-expansion heat pump (DX-SAHP), an ASHP, and conventional gas/electric water heaters. A thoroughly validated mathematical model based on heat transfer and thermodynamics fundamentals is developed and implemented in MATLAB® coupled with the CoolProp® library, which gives the refrigerant's properties. Results highlight the superior performance of the dual-source heat pump, particularly in the summer, where it surpasses the DX-SAHP. Among the examined heat pump configurations, the dual-source heat pump demonstrates the lowest annual power consumption. The system attains the maximum monthly average COP of 3.94 and achieves a minimum of 2.4 during the severe winter season in Calgary, Alberta. Compared to a conventional ASHP, the energy consumption of the system was reduced by 25%. The second-law analysis shows that the ASHP obtains the highest monthly average exergy efficiencies, followed by the DX-SAHP and the dual-source heat pump. Furthermore, the solar/air source heat pump water heater can reduce CO2 emissions by 1450 kg/year, while the system's payback period is 19 years.