Integrated system of exhaust air heat pump and advanced air distribution for energy-efficient provision of outdoor air

A large outdoor air supply is required to control the airborne infection risk of respiratory diseases (e.g., COVID 19) but causes a high energy penalty. This study proposes a novel integrated system of the exhaust air heat pump and advanced air distribution to energy-efficiently provide outdoor air. The system energy performances are evaluated by the experimentally validated thermodynamic model of heat pump and heat removal efficiency model of advanced air distribution. Results show the exhaust air heat pump with advanced air distribution can save energy because of three mechanisms. First, the exhaust air heat pump reuses the exhaust air to reduce the condensation temperature, thereby improving the coefficient of performance. Second, advanced air distribution reduces ventilation load. Third, advanced air distribution reduces the condensation temperature and enhances the evaporation temperature, thereby improving the coefficient of performance. The exhaust air heat pump saves energy by 18%, advanced air distribution saves energy by 36%, and the integrated system of the exhaust air heat pump and advanced air distribution can save energy by 45%. As a specific application, compared with the conventional system (i.e., the outdoor air heat pump with mixing ventilation), the exhaust air heat pump with stratum ventilation saves energy by 21% − 35% under various outdoor air ratios and outdoor air temperatures. The proposed integrated system of the exhaust air heat pump and advanced air distribution contributes to the development of low-carbon and healthy buildings.