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A low carbon heating system for existing public buildings employing the innovative mixed indoor/outdoor air source heat pump and multiple-throughout-flowing micro-channel solar panels array

People Involved

Dr Zishang Zhu

Project Description

Through a close collaboration between University of Hull, EPS Ltd and NPS Humberside Ltd which have complimentary expertise, knowledge and capacity in R&D, manufacturing, design and management of the building heating systems, the project will develop and demonstrate a novel, high efficiency, low cost, and low carbon heating system applicable to existing public buildings in the UK. The proposed system will have 55% higher system performance factor (SPFH14), 10% lower capital cost, and 20% lower operational cost compared to existing solar assisted heat pump systems of the same capacity, while the associated fossil fuel saving and carbon emission reduction rate of the proposed system will be 15% higher than existing ones. Since the existing public buildings have sufficient roof area for accommodation of the solar panels, and huge amount of ventilation air discharged from building which, when being used as part of the heat source of the heat pump, can effectively increases its evaporation temperature and COP, the proposed system is particularly appropriate to the retrofitting of the existing public buildings in the UK. The innovations involved in the system include: (1) multiple-throughout-flowing micro-channel-solar-panels-array; (2) mixed indoor/outdoor air source heat pump employing a micro-channel evaporator; (3) combined operation between the micro-channel solar panels array and indoor/outdoor air source heat pump; (4) combined heat-exchanging/storage tank; and (5) intelligent control algorithm. Such innovations in combination will open up enormous UK and global market in building heating sector, thus creating considerable impact on economy, industry and environment within the UK and beyond.

Status Project Complete
Value £1,191,853.00
Project Dates Oct 1, 2018 - Mar 31, 2022
Partner Organisations EPS Ltd
NPS Humber Limited (NPS) Ltd


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