Feasibility and performance study on the novel photovoltaic thermal heat pipe/heat pump composite cycle trigeneration system in summer

Photovoltaic thermal heat pump technology with deep utilization of solar energy has great market potential to achieve “Carbon Neutrality” in the building sector. A novel photovoltaic thermal heat pipe/heat pump composite cycle trigeneration system synergetic driven by a compressor and a working fluid circulating pump was proposed and experimentally verified. On this basis, the trigeneration performance and operating characteristics of the novel system were tested and investigated in the summer. The experimental results showed that the novel system can arbitrarily switching between different cycles and has an excellent energy saving effect. The average electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency, heating COP, and refrigerating COP of the novel system were 10.1%, 40.3%, 7.02, and 2.60, respectively. During the whole day, the comprehensive COP for heating, power generation, and refrigerating of the novel system was 13.93. The heating COP and comprehensive COP of the novel system were 20%–50% and 40%–65% higher than that of the existing photovoltaic thermal heat pump trigeneration system, respectively. Furthermore, the CO2 emission of the novel system was 4042 kg CO2 in summer, which was 20%–80% lower than that of other technical solutions. The novel system represents a practical response to the need to achieve the total decarbonization of the building sector.