I wanted to share my experience with optimizing my geothermal heat pump system using an accumulator tank. The goal was to reduce energy costs by leveraging off-peak electricity prices through the NordPool market. Here’s how I approached it:
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System Overview: My setup includes a CTC geothermal heat pump, a 500-liter accumulator tank, and radiators. The tank acts as a thermal battery, storing heat during low-price hours for use during peak times.
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Challenges: Initially, I tried a manual scheduling approach but found it difficult to estimate energy consumption accurately. The system needed a smarter solution to handle varying outdoor temperatures and electricity prices dynamically.
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Solution: I developed a linear optimization model that considers heat pump production capacity, desired indoor temperatures, outdoor temperature forecasts, and shower schedules. The model predicts heat consumption and plans pump run times to minimize costs.
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Implementation: Using Home Assistant and a custom REST API, I integrated the optimization model. The system updates every 20 minutes, adjusting to real-time data and user inputs for minimum hot water temperature and indoor comfort settings.
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Results: The visualization in Home Assistant shows predicted heat consumption, pump production, and tank temperature. It’s been a game-changer, allowing me to interactively adjust settings and see cost impacts in real-time.
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Configuration: The setup involved defining input booleans, numbers, and REST commands in Home Assistant. An automation triggers the optimization every 20 minutes, ensuring the system stays updated.
This approach has significantly reduced our energy costs while maintaining comfort. I’m excited to see how this system performs over different seasons and electricity price fluctuations!
If anyone has similar setups or questions about the optimization model, I’d be happy to discuss further!