Energy and economic analysis of replacing a boiler with a heat pump in a Kindergarten in Padua

This thesis focuses on the energy analysis of a primary school's heating system in Padova, particularly during the heating season. The study involved upgrading the school's heating system by replacing an outdated non-condensing boiler with a heat pump. An hourly thermal energy demand profile for the school was simulated using EnergyPlus, serving as the basis for evaluating the heat pump's performance. A custom Excel-based model was developed to simulate the thermal capacity, coefficient of performance (COP), and part-load COP of the selected heat pump, using operational data provided by the manufacturer. This allowed for the calculation of electrical energy consumption, primary energy usage, and operational costs throughout the heating season. The analysis compared the heat pump operating under two scenarios: constant supply temperature (40°C supply and 35°C return, or 45°C supply and 40°C return) and weather-compensated control. The study also included a comparative analysis of a condensing boiler using a mathematical model based on the characteristics of a Riello boiler, evaluating gas consumption and operational costs under identical scenarios. The results provide a comprehensive evaluation of the energy efficiency, primary energy demand, and economic performance of the heat pump and condensing boiler systems.