Modeling and Control of Reversible Air-to-water Heat Pumps

In this framework, the provision of modeling on a detailed thermodynamic modeling and the embedded architecture control is of paramount importance to achieve reliable control and operation. More specifically, the developed models should provide insights into (i) the ability of the RHP to quickly respond to the variation in the cooling and heating demand of the users (e.g., building load); (ii) the capability to adapt to the variation in the local while accounting for limits of the electric motor and the embedded controller, and (iii) the possibility to compare new control strategies aimed at improving the overall energy performance. The thesis compared different controls (e.g., proportional-integral for variable speed, and hysteresis controller for sequential control.) and they demonstrated that the modeling complexity of the system control has a significant impact on the key performance indicators, proving that this aspect should not be overlooked. For instance, for short-term operation, the modeling of the heat pump controller and the transient effects of the heat pump, such as cycling losses during start-up, are important.