ITES-MES prototype at small scale

The preliminary MES design carried out in Task 3.2 will be used as a reference for the design and installation of a first prototype at lab scale (TRL4), as revamping of a dual-source heat pump already operating at the TekneHub labs . Here, a modified air-to-air heat pump (2.5kW, R410a) only devoted to the air-conditioning of a small room (50m3) is already operating with a novel functionality of switching between air and ground, as controlled by a PLC for the most comfortable temperature. The exploitation of the ground is carried out by means of 12m of Flat-Panels, whose trench is fillable with PCMs, according the easiness in moving the backfilling sand. To better represent the full system at a small-scale, the room will be refurbished according to the guidelines obtained in Task 3.1, and the plant will be then revamped with the installation of a tailored prototype of the novel PV/T-PCM system. The small-scale prototype fulfils the function of a cheap test case for checking and eventually calibrating the TRNSYS model implemented in Task 3.2, toward a reliable and affordable design of real cases. Moreover, it can support dissemination and communication activities of WP8. Simplified information developed in this deliverable will be given to those in preparation of D6.3 to be included in the focus groups. This will be completed under task 3.3.