Multi-generation house
Coupling of Smart Heat heat pumps and solar technology
The demands on a heat supply concept are constantly increasing. Stricter legal changes have just as much of an impact as investment and running costs. Since it is now possible to quickly calculate whether self-consumption of PV power takes priority over feed-in, manufacturers have turned their attention to this issue. Quattro Solar Plus GmbH is one of them. They developed a solar hybrid module that works perfectly with the SmartHeat heat pump. The decision to use this type of coupling is not only relevant for new buildings. These systems are also finding their way into renovations, as this building project from 2014 shows.
Double solar use
The 85 innovative hybrid collectors used combine electricity and heat generation. The circulation on the back of these PV modules from Quattro Solar Plus GmbH is used to feed heat into the storage tank and at the same time to cool the PV modules. The hybrid module enables even temperature distribution and thus even cooling among the modules, which results in a considerable increase in the efficiency of the PV modules. Conversely, the even temperature distribution on the thermal module is used to clear ice and snow from the PV module. The result is a higher yield and at the same time a higher feed-in tariff or self-consumption capacity.
Efficient cooperation of combined energy systems
On the solar thermal side, a brine-water mixture is used. This is consistently at least 10°C warmer than the air temperature and is therefore ideal as a heat source for a heat pump.
The heat supply is provided by the SmartHeat Titan 050 BWi heat pump. The heat side of the heat pump is supplied by the energy distribution system, while the cold side is fed by the ice storage system.
The inverter technology of the SmartHeat heat pump ensures that the actual heating or cooling requirement always provides an optimal supply of the respective demand by means of stepless speed control. This enables energy-efficient operation, a longer service life and better performance factors. The highly efficient and modulating SmartHeat Titan i achieves an output range of around 8 to around 48 kW - and all with just one heat pump. This puts the Titan i a big step ahead of the conventional state of the art, as it covers far more than the conventional single-family home range. Distinguished by features such as its compact design and quiet operation, the SmartHeat Titan i achieves flow temperatures of up to 60 °C and can also optionally cool in reverse operation. This gives it the utmost planning security and is particularly suitable for working in a resource-efficient and, above all, demand-oriented manner. Areas of application, as in this case, are expansion stages in multi-generational houses, but also small businesses, office complexes or daycare centers. There are hardly any limits to its use.
The reversible SmartHeat Titan i, in conjunction with the hybrid module, also takes over the cooling of the building. The heat is released to the module at night so that the efficiency of the module is not reduced. This effect of the reversible mode of operation is also used in winter. The heat pump ensures that the PV modules are defrosted when they are frozen.
The big challenge for planners and installers was to optimally coordinate the elements of generation, storage and use in terms of heat and electricity while achieving the highest possible overall efficiency.
Two identical 650-liter freshwater combination tanks are intended for heat storage from the solar system and heating supply. In solar operation, both tanks are connected in series, with a volume flow controller ensuring even loading. In heating operation, both combination tanks are separated and each are supplied with their own pump from the heating distributor.
An existing low-temperature gas condensing boiler covers absolute peak loads.
Store energy ice cold
While many storage concepts store energy at high temperatures (and therefore often with high losses), this approach is different. Energy can be converted into heat or cold and stored thermally. When installed underground, an ice storage system stores free energy from the environment at a low temperature with almost no loss.
"We already operated ice storage projects with heat pump technology more than 10 years ago. It's great to see that these concepts are now bearing fruit and finding their attractive application," said André Schreier in 2014, Managing Director of SmartHeat Deutschland GmbH and also an enthusiastic private user of combined heat pump, solar thermal and photovoltaic technology.