Modelling and simulation results for a domestic exhaust-air heat pump heating system

Energy consumption in residential buildings has gained an increasing interest the latest years due to the rising demand for efficient energy use and higher comfort standards. In tight building constructions with controlled ventilation, heat recovery with exhaust-air heat pump connected to floor heating is regarded as energy efficient heating system that optimises the energy use in buildings while maintaining an acceptable level of thermal comfort. In this study, we use the computational tools TRNSYS and EES to model and analyse the performance of a residential house, its ventilation system and its floor heating system based on an exhaust air heat pump. The system analysis focuses particularly on the influence of internal and solar gains on the operation of the heating system and the thermal comfort of the house. Furthermore, the way that gains influences the performance of the floor heating system is examined. Overall, the results bring to light the impact of factors that are not easy to predict on the indoor climate and the thermal comfort.