Lead Performer: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Richland, WA
July 24, 2023
minute read time
Lead Performer: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Richland, WA
DOE Total Funding: $5,553,550 since 2021
FY23 DOE Funding: $1,950,000
Project Term: October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2024
Funding Type: AOP Project (Direct-Funded Lab Project)
Project Objective
Objectives for market transformation and field validation in this project, which focuses on heat pumps and heat pumps water heaters include:
Task 1 – Heat Pump Strategies in Disadvantaged Communities: Develop a repeatable strategy to coordinate a network of heat pump training, consumer awareness and funding mechanisms for disadvantaged communities to install heat pumps where it is beneficial.
Task 2 – HPWH in SE: Assist Energy Solutions with load shifting project in North Carolina and determine if load shifting results in a disadvantaged community in North Carolina are similar or very different from an average community in Florida.
Task 3 – Grid Enabled Heat Pumps: Evaluate the aggregated winter load shifting capability of cold climate HPs in Cordova, Alaska, and determine if comfort can be maintained while load shifting.
Task 4 – HPWH Decision Tool: Create an easy user interface decision tool to assist plumbers that are new to HPWH installations. Assist these plumbers with decisions such as panel capacity, location of water heaters, size of water heater and installation specifics such as location of condensate drain.
Task 5 – Demonstration of 120V HPWHs in Hot Climates: Evaluate the performance and implications of 120V HPWHs in a hot-humid climate.
Task 6 – Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool: Create an easy user interface decision tool online for HVAC contractors that are new to heat pump installations. Assist these HVAC contractors with decisions such as type of heat pump, panel capacity, heat pump sizing, duct design, etc.
Task 7 – Combination HP and HPWH: Determine if performance of the combined system justifies cost of the equipment.
Task 8 – HP and HPWH Validation Database: Establish collaboration platform for researchers to share field validation results related to heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.
Project Impact
This project aligns with the Biden Administration's goals to decarbonize the HVAC and water heating sectors in the U.S. residential sector. It addresses the challenge of increased peak electricity demand associated with residential electrification by exploring the thermal characteristics of water heaters and space conditioning heat pumps as flexible load options. Previous work focused on validating load shifting with heat pump water heaters and low global warming potential refrigerant HPWHs, resulting in technical reports and papers that influenced the development of Washington state law. This project will focus on heat pump and HPWH field validation, decision tool development, contractor training, and load shifting in disadvantaged communities and cold climates.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Alexander Rees
Lead Performer: Cheryn Metzger, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Related Publications
Field Performance of R-1234yf Heat Pump Water Heaters | PNNL
43rd PLMA: Winter Load Shifting Field Study of Residential Multi-Split Heat Pumps (mclms.net)