Development of a new dynamic test procedure for the laboratory characterization of a whole heating and cooling system

The procedure was applied to a solar-assisted heat pump system in four different European climates. The seasonal performance figures are extrapolated from the test results and compared with the numerical simulations of the entire heating and cooling system. In all test cases the seasonal performance factors are lower than the simulated ones by approximately 10%. The results obtained with dynamic tests confirm the necessity of their implementation, since they provide useful information to improve the system layout and control. In this way, the manufacturers can introduce more efficient products into the market.