In the quest for carbon neutrality, researchers are constantly seeking innovative ways to reduce emissions and enhance energy efficiency. A groundbreaking study led by 丁鹿, published in ‘Zhileng xuebao’ (Journal of Refrigeration), introduces a novel combined cooling and heating system that could revolutionize how we manage energy in distributed areas. This system, based on an absorption heat pump, harnesses a variety of clean and renewable energy sources, including solar heat, geothermal, waste heat, biomass, and air-source energy. The goal? To provide efficient cooling and heating across a wide temperature range, from -20 to 100℃, making it ideal for villages, cities, and industrial parks.
The system’s design is both ingenious and practical. It uses vacuum tube collectors to capture solar thermal energy and incorporates natural gas secondary combustion to balance the fluctuations in solar energy supply. This dual approach ensures a stable energy supply, regardless of weather conditions. “Through gas proportional regulation, all-weather stable energy supply was achieved,” noted 丁鹿, highlighting the system’s robustness.
One of the most impressive features of this system is its ability to drive multiple indoor heating and cooling units with a single outdoor unit and absorption heat pump. This is achieved through medium circulation and valve switching, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of installation. The prototype, tested in Jinan, demonstrated a solar thermal ratio of up to 35%, showcasing the system’s efficiency in utilizing renewable energy.
The performance metrics are equally impressive. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) for cooling reached 0.30-0.43 at -20℃ and 0.70-0.78 at 7℃, with cooling water temperatures varying from 30 to 20℃. For heating, the COP ranged from 1.40-1.90 at 45℃ and 1.35-1.56 at 80℃, with evaporation temperatures varying from -15 to 20℃. These figures underscore the system’s versatility and efficiency across different temperature zones.
The environmental benefits are substantial. By integrating solar thermal driving and ambient energy recovery, the system achieves over 50% renewable energy usage. Compared to traditional methods like gas furnaces plus air conditioning, this new system reduces annual operating costs by over 54.3% and carbon emissions by 44%. This makes it a compelling option for both environmental and economic reasons.
The commercial implications for the energy sector are vast. As the world moves towards decarbonization, technologies that can provide efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly heating and cooling solutions will be in high demand. This system, with its ability to operate in a wide temperature range and its high renewable energy integration, could be a game-changer for distributed energy management. It offers a pathway to reducing carbon footprints while maintaining high performance and reliability.
The study, published in ‘Zhileng xuebao’, opens up exciting possibilities for future developments in the field. As researchers and engineers build on this work, we can expect to see more innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The future of combined cooling and heating systems looks brighter and greener, thanks to pioneering efforts like this.