Multi-objective optimization of a solar-assisted heat pump for swimming pool heating using genetic algorithm

Abstract

A proper assessment of heating systems for swimming pools should evaluate the compromise between comfortlevel and the willingness to pay for it. The present work presents a multi-objective optimization of indirect solarassisted heat pump systems for outdoor swimming pool heating. Four different configurations are reported; (air-to-water heat pump and three solar assisted heat pumps, air-to-water, water-to-water and a dual-source); andevaluated in six different locations (three location in Chile: Antofagasta, Santiago, and Concepción; and threelocations in Brazil: Brazilia, São Paulo, and Florianópolis). The methodology approach configures two objectivesoptimization, the minimization of the Annualized Life Cycle Cost (ALCC) and the maximization of the comfortlevel offered by the swimming pool. The optimization scheme consists of using a combination of tools: theenergy-savings potential of i-SAHP are evaluated using the TRNSYS software in combination with GenOpt; andthe economic modeling and optimization are performed in the MATLAB environment, using an approximationmodel and variant of NSGA-II genetic algorithm for building the Pareto frontiers. The optimization results de-monstrate that solar-assisted configurations present significant improvements in performance for almost alllocations, reaching the same levels of comfort at lower ALCCs when compared with the ASHP configuration.