Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology

This paper proposes an innovative system that integrates two thermoelectric heat pumps (one air–water and the other water–water) with two thermal storage tanks at different temperatures to provide heating and domestic hot water to a 73.3 m<sup>2</sup> passive-house-certified dwelling in...

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Main Authors: Javier Ordóñez, Sergio Díaz de Garayo, Álvaro Martínez, Fernando Algarra, David Astrain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3988
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author Javier Ordóñez
Sergio Díaz de Garayo
Álvaro Martínez
Fernando Algarra
David Astrain
author_facet Javier Ordóñez
Sergio Díaz de Garayo
Álvaro Martínez
Fernando Algarra
David Astrain
author_sort Javier Ordóñez
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes an innovative system that integrates two thermoelectric heat pumps (one air–water and the other water–water) with two thermal storage tanks at different temperatures to provide heating and domestic hot water to a 73.3 m<sup>2</sup> passive-house-certified dwelling in Pamplona (Spain). The air–water thermoelectric heat pump extracts heat from the ambient air and provides heat to a tank at intermediate temperature, which supplies water to a radiant floor. The water–water heat pump takes heat from this tank and provides heat to the other tank, at higher temperature, which supplies domestic hot water. The system performance and comfort conditions are computationally analyzed during the month of January under the climate of Pamplona and under different European climates. The COP of the system lays between 1.3 and 1.7, depending on the climate, because of the low COP of the air–water thermoelectric heat pump. However, it is able to provide water for the radiant floor and to maintain the temperature of the dwelling above 20 °C 99.8% of the time. Moreover, it provides domestic hot water at a temperature above 43 °C 99.9% of the time. Noteworthy is the fact that the water–water heat pump presents a COP close to 4, which opens up the possibilities of working in combination with more efficient heat pumps for the first stage.
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issn 2075-5309
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-da5c64ff6d864ea48372e7a440eec8ce2025-08-20T02:43:29ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-12-011412398810.3390/buildings14123988Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric TechnologyJavier Ordóñez0Sergio Díaz de Garayo1Álvaro Martínez2Fernando Algarra3David Astrain4National Renewable Energy Centre, 31621 Sarriguren, SpainNational Renewable Energy Centre, 31621 Sarriguren, SpainEngineering Department, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, SpainEngineering Department, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, SpainEngineering Department, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, SpainThis paper proposes an innovative system that integrates two thermoelectric heat pumps (one air–water and the other water–water) with two thermal storage tanks at different temperatures to provide heating and domestic hot water to a 73.3 m<sup>2</sup> passive-house-certified dwelling in Pamplona (Spain). The air–water thermoelectric heat pump extracts heat from the ambient air and provides heat to a tank at intermediate temperature, which supplies water to a radiant floor. The water–water heat pump takes heat from this tank and provides heat to the other tank, at higher temperature, which supplies domestic hot water. The system performance and comfort conditions are computationally analyzed during the month of January under the climate of Pamplona and under different European climates. The COP of the system lays between 1.3 and 1.7, depending on the climate, because of the low COP of the air–water thermoelectric heat pump. However, it is able to provide water for the radiant floor and to maintain the temperature of the dwelling above 20 °C 99.8% of the time. Moreover, it provides domestic hot water at a temperature above 43 °C 99.9% of the time. Noteworthy is the fact that the water–water heat pump presents a COP close to 4, which opens up the possibilities of working in combination with more efficient heat pumps for the first stage.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3988thermoelectricsheat pumpnZEBsimulationheatingDHW
spellingShingle Javier Ordóñez
Sergio Díaz de Garayo
Álvaro Martínez
Fernando Algarra
David Astrain
Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
Buildings
thermoelectrics
heat pump
nZEB
simulation
heating
DHW
title Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
title_full Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
title_fullStr Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
title_full_unstemmed Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
title_short Design and Analysis of a Two-Stage Cascade System for Heating and Hot Water Production in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Using Thermoelectric Technology
title_sort design and analysis of a two stage cascade system for heating and hot water production in nearly zero energy buildings using thermoelectric technology
topic thermoelectrics
heat pump
nZEB
simulation
heating
DHW
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3988
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AT fernandoalgarra designandanalysisofatwostagecascadesystemforheatingandhotwaterproductioninnearlyzeroenergybuildingsusingthermoelectrictechnology
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