A Review of Ground Coupled Heat Pump Models Used in Whole-Building Computer Simulation Programs

Increasingly, building owners are turning to ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems to improve energy efficiency. Ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems with a vertical closed ground loop heat exchanger are one of the more widely used systems. Over the last thirty years, a number of simulation models have been developed to calculate the performance of the ground heat exchanger (GHX). The several computer programs can evaluate the GCHP systems as a part of the whole-building energy simulation. This paper briefly presents a general introduction to GSHP systems and the GCHP system, and reviews the currently developed GCHP models and compares computer programs for a GCHP design. In addition, GHX models which play an important role on the GCHP performance are reviewed. Finally, several widely recognized computer simulation programs for building energy analysis are compared regarding their GCHP simulation capability.Energy Systems Laboratory, Department of Architecture Texas A&M University College Station, T