Heating performance analysis of an air source heat pump heating system with different heating terminals under frosting conditions

Gao, Xuefeng, Wei, Wenzhe, Wang, Wei, Tang, Rui, Tan, Yang, Sun, Yuying, Luo, Zhiwen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2082-3958, Zhang, Chunxiao and Wu, Wentao 2026. Heating performance analysis of an air source heat pump heating system with different heating terminals under frosting conditions. Building and Environment 305 (Part A) , 115242. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.115242

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Abstract

Heating terminal configurations significantly affect the operating performance and indoor thermal response of air source heat pumps (ASHPs). However, most studies have focused on steady heating conditions, with limited consideration of the frosting-defrosting process. Consequently, their effects during frosting-defrosting cycles remain unclear, hindering improvements in ASHP heating performance for different terminals. To address this issue, an ASHP test rig was established in an artificial environment chamber, in which fan coil units (FCUs) and radiant floors (RFs) were connected to the same ASHP unit and operated separately. Then, experiments were performed under preset environmental conditions to compare the frosting-defrosting characteristics, heating performance, and indoor thermal environment of the ASHP system under the FCU and RF heating modes. Results showed that defrosting caused obvious fluctuations in supply and return water temperatures under both the FCU and RF heating modes, with larger fluctuations observed under the FCU heating mode. Compared to those under the RF heating mode, the frosting suppression performance under the FCU heating mode was better, with frosting durations prolonged by 21.7% and 29.8%, respectively. However, better heating performance was obtained under the RF heating mode. The average heating capacity and COP under the RF heating mode were 7.9% and 21.3% higher than those under the FCU heating mode. In addition, the defrosting had less effect on indoor thermal environment under RF heating mode. The indoor temperature and relative humidity remained nearly unchanged under RF heating mode, while fluctuated 3.13–4.02°C and 6.03%–7.51% under the FCU heating mode.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Architecture
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0360-1323
Date of Acceptance:	8 September 2026
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2026 09:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189599

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