Cascade cycle high-temperature heat pump: modelling and validation.

The paper is devoted to the modelling and validation of a cascade cycle high-temperature heat pump installed in a single-family dwelling in Belgium. The heat pump can operate in three different modes: bottom cycle only, bottom cycle in parallel with cascade cycle and cascade cycle only, depending on the outdoor air temperature. The heat pump is equipped with detailed monitoring sensors in order to measure the real performance of the system. A stationary model of each heat pump mode has been developed in the Matlab ® environment. The field measurements are used to derive values for the parameters of each model. Firstly, we present the model of the heat pump. Secondly, we compare the results of the model with the measurements, which exhibits fair agreement. Thirdly, we present the results of the model, used to estimate the performance of the heat pump in function of the outdoor air and outlet water temperatures.