Heating system with vapour compressor heat pump and horizontal ground heat exchanger

This paper presents the results of thermodynamic analysis of the following system: heated object - vapour compressor heat pump - ground heat exchanger. The system subject to examination is equipped, apart from the heat pump, with the additional conventional source of heat. The mentioned source is used, when the heat capacity of the vapour compressor heat pump is too little, in order to provide the required volume of heat to the heated object. Ground is the lower source of heat for the heat pump. The heat is collected via the intermediate medium flowing through the pipes of the heat exchanger. Calculations analysis were conducted for two cases: fixed and flexible value of the intermediate medium flow. The processes taking place in the examined system are of unsteady character. The period of one heating season is taken into consideration. The results of calculations concern, among others, variable in time parameters at particular points of the system during the time period subject to examination and total consumption of energy.