TO-22-C071 - Sub-slab Thermal Storage System for Coupling to a Heat Pump: Modelling Approach and Simulated Performance

The research investigates the performance of a sub-slab ground heat exchanger, coupled to a heat pump system, and the ability of the system to provide space conditioning and domestic hot water heating for a low-rise multi-unit residential building. The thermal performance of the system is assessed through simulation for a multi-unit residential construction in Ottawa. According to the simulated results, the ground layer is able to store energy over the medium term, without reducing the long-term performance of the heat pump. The system was able also to fully meet the space conditioning and domestic hot water (DHW) heating needs of the building. The annual electricity consumption of the heat pump was estimated to be 10.9 GJ (10.3 MMBTU) per dwelling unit. Future work will investigate the design of the ground heat exchanger and the controller, to further improve the performance of the system.