Design of an Integrated Energy System using a cascade high temperature heat pump with zeotropic refrigerants

This thesis deals with the design and modelling of an integrated energy system capable of sustaining its operation. This system is based on a cascade high-temperature heat pump utilizing zeotropic refrigerants. The heat pump design is specifically sized to generate hot water for district heating with a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 3.6. This system is modelled in Matlab and tested on the geographic area of Oslo as a case study. The simulation is performed over a year on an hourly basis. The system provides enough heat to satisfy the district heating demand for 9/12 months of the year while also achieving self-sustainability during its operation. In addition, the deployment of zeotropic mixtures as refrigerants adds an extra layer of efficiency and adaptability to the system thanks to their temperature glide. The results highlight that the proposed system not only meets the design specifications, but it is also a sustainable and efficient source of energy. Overall, the work demonstrates the good potential of high temperature heat pumps to effectively address the energy needs of residential communities.