With the revised 2019 version of the software GeoT*SOL, Valentin Software is extending the scope of its design program for heat pump systems.
As before, air heat pumps and those with geothermal probes that extract their heat through drilling down to a depth of 100 m can be calculated and simulated. It is also possible to design heat pump systems that use groundwater or geothermal collectors laid horizontally in the ground as a heat source.
In addition to the heat performance factor, the program calculates the annual energy yields and makes statements on cost-effectiveness and emission reduction compared to conventional systems. The software graphically presents all the results. These include the annual course of the relevant temperatures, the useful heat and the electrical energy as well as the weekly heat performance factor.
New bivalent systems with heat pump and additional heat generators
When designing a system, the user can choose between various predefined system configurations that have proven themselves in practice. In addition to the monovalent and monoenergetic systems with heat pump and solar thermal systems, new bivalent systems with additional heat generators have been added. Thus, it is possible to simulate existing systems with condensing boilers, compact heating systems and other boilers, with the addition of a heat pump.
New plants with a conventional heat generator as backup can now also be simulated and optimized. In addition to heat pumps, all heat generators can of course also be selected from a comprehensive and up-to-date database of nearly 1,600 products. For the simulation, the operating mode can be selected and parameterized from a large number of possible combinations of monovalent, monoenergetic and bivalent systems with parallel, partially parallel or alternative operation.
Completely Redesigned VDI 4650 (2016)
Like the previous version, GeoT*SOL 2019 also determines the seasonal heat performance factor on the basis of minute values. This number indicates the quotient of the delivered heat and the electricity consumption. In addition to the simulation result, the software calculates the seasonal heat performance factor in accordance with VDI guideline 4650, which the German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) requires for the approval of grant applications.
The new VDI 4650 (2016) is mainly based on field monitoring projects of the Fraunhofer ISE and thus depicts heat pump systems more realistically. As previously, GeoT*SOL also includes performance-controlled heat pumps and heat pumps with the support of solar thermal systems. From March 16, the new VDI 4650 (2016) will apply to all new applications for funding from BAFA. GeoT*SOL 2019 thus meets all requirements for the recognition of grant applications.
Combination with PV*SOL to determine self consumption of electricity from a PV system
After a simulation of the heat pump system with GeoT*SOL, an interface to PV*SOL, the simulation program for solar electric systems, can be used to determine the power supplied by the PV system directly to the heat pump. This is done by simulating the PV system in PV*SOL together with the heat pump as a consumer. This makes it possible to precisely determine the degree of self-sufficiency of an existing energy supply for both the power supply and the heat supply of a building.
