Development of a multipurpose heat pump for domestic applications

The development of the heat pump aims at a compact heat pump providing heating and cooling in an environmentally acceptable and energetically less consuming way. The heat pump fulfils the following functions : heating in winter time and cooling in summer time and producing sanitary hot water during all seasons. A water-water distribution system is chosen for these purposes. This is the most simple way to make the system reversible between heating and cooling using a 4-way valve in the water distribution system. A simulation program is developed, which enables a technological and economic analysis. Two prototypes are built and tested. Performances of both prototypes are reported in the paper.