Optimization of biomass energy coupled multi-source heat pumps cooperative heating system: A case study

To achieve the goal of clean heating in northern rural areas, a cooperative heating system, composed of a biomass boiler and a multi-source heat pump was proposed, based on building heat load and resource conditions. This cooperative heating system combined biomass energy, geothermal energy and air energy. A dynamic simulation model is established by using the TRNSYS software. Under the condition of energy balance, an optimization model is proposed based on the minimum annual cost. The proposed model is applied in a demonstration project for the Miaofuan rural community in Linzi Town, Linyi County, Dezhou City in Shandong Province, China. The heat supply ratio of each equipment and the operation mode of the coupled system are optimized. Results show that the coupled system with the optimal configuration can reduce the annual cost by 9.60%, 14.22% and 11.66%, respectively; compared with the geothermal heat pump, air source heat pump and biomass boiler alone. Therefore, the proposed cooperative heating system can be well applied in rural areas.