Air source heat pump water heater: Performance evaluation of technology by testing, modeling, and feasibility analysis

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Domestic water heating accounts for more than 20% of the total energy consumption in Canadian residential sector. This study is intended to investigate the potential of an innovative water heating technology, namely Air Source Heat Pump Water Heater (ASHPWH), and to develop technical characteristics for the applications in residential houses. This will be achieved through rigorous field performance tests and computer simulation. The industrial partner, AO Smith, is a well-established global company for high quality water heating technologies and equipment. As one of their latest innovations, the ASHPWH is designed to provide high efficiency water heating for residential houses. The performance of these water heaters may vary greatly due to different site-specific characteristics. To examine the performance issues of ASHPWH for Canadian residential houses, AO Smith Corporation has proposed this research in collaboration with Dr. Wey Leong of Ryerson University. The company will provide an ASHPWH system which will be integrated in the Archetype Sustainable House (ASH) located in the Kortright Centre for Conservation, Ontario. The investigation will identify the key performance parameters of ASHPWH device for residential buildings in Canada by methodical testing and modeling. The project will also evaluate the impact of integration of heat recovery from the outgoing stale air in the ventilation system. The study will provide a scientific basis for the potential and operational challenges of this technology in Canada. This six-month research headed by Dr. Wey Leong of Ryerson University will foster a collaboration between Ryerson and AO Smith Corporation, which would be beneficial to AO Smith water heating business in Canada, and will help to build a strong partnership for future research and development activities.