Performance Assessment of Ground Source Heat Pump Systems Using a Co-Simulation Tool Integrating Heat Pump and Ground Heat Exchanger Models

The increasing adoption of Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems in modern energy infrastructures in urban areas, particularly within the 5th generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) networks, highlights the need for advanced computational tools to enable efficient evaluation and optimization. Addressing this need, this study presents an integrative simulation tool that combines detailed heat pump and ground heat exchanger models. This computational tool incorporates a data-driven parameter optimization process, enhancing the model's ability to accurately represent real-world dynamics.

The computational framework couples a thermodynamically detailed heat pump model with a subsurface heat transfer model to capture the complex thermal interactions between the heat pump and the ground heat exchangers. Heat exchange processes, including Borehole Heat Exchanger (BHE) inlet/outlet temperatures and ground thermal behavior, are simulated in detail considering site-specific conditions. Python programming serves as the integration platform, ensuring seamless data exchange and synchronized simulation between the models while enabling efficient parameter calibration and optimization.

The developed tool is applied to evaluate the thermal performance of designed BHE sites under realistic operational scenarios, utilizing high-resolution time series of heating and cooling loads. Key performance metrics, such as seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP), ground thermal regeneration, and overall system efficiency and sustainability, are analyzed to provide actionable insights into system performance. This work can complement existing initiatives like the Wärmegut project, contributing to the broader effort of advancing shallow geothermal energy technologies and their integration into optimized energy systems.