Theme 8: Heat Pumps

The aim of this project is to develop a easy-to-use decision-making tool – a configurator – to determine the optimal, most efficient, and most cost-effective configuration for heating systems for specific households or buildings. The configurator will provide installers, consultancies or homeowners to determine the appropriate heating system based on energy demand, as well as the context of the household (for example, taking into account the supply of solar energy and the size of the household, among other factors). The configurator will also generate a visual overview (i.e. a dashboard) summarizing the optimal configuration with graphs and business cases for users.

TU Delft's role in the project will consist of the development, through participatory research and design approaches, of a feedback loop between product developers and residents. This feedback loop will be supported by a computational model (or digital twin) in the context of a renovation process.

Partners: Saxion, HAN, Hogeschool Utrecht, TNO, Rensa, Stanstechniek Gaanderen, Viridi, Solarfreezer, TU Delft
TU Delft Researchers: Evert van Beek (PhD Researcher), Stella Boess, Sacha Sylvester, Faculty of Industrial Design
Timeline: 2020 – 2024

This project aims to advance the development of a magnetocaloric heat pumps – a type of heat pump that has the potential to use far less energy, is quieter, and does not require harmful substances to run relative to conventional heat pumps. This technology is being developed for use across the built environment, such as in residential buildings and houses.

This project focuses on the development of an active magnetic regenerator (AMR) - the centerpiece of a magnetocaloric heat pump. The project will be carried out by assessing the system operating conditions, optimizing heat pump design, manufacturing an optimized active magnetic regenerator, and testing the regenerator in an experimental magnetic heat pump. 

Partners: Saxion, HAN, Hogeschool Utrecht, TNO, Rensa, Stanstechniek Gaanderen, Viridi, Solarfreezer, TU Delft, Magneto BV, RSO-technology, ITHO
TU Delft Researchers:

• Faculty of Applied Sciences: Diego Pineda (PhD Researcher), Ekkes Brück
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Carlos Infante Ferreira

Timeline: 2020 – 2024