Abstract
In the context of continental climate conditions like those in Kazakhstan, ground source heat pump heating systems are regarded as highly effective solutions for transitioning to cleaner and greener heating methods.This study undertook both experimental and theoretical investigations to develop a ground source heat pump-based heating system tailored to Kazakhstan's weather conditions and to assess its thermodynamic performance.The system, utilizing a waterto-water heat pump integrated with a ground source heat exchanger and R134a refrigerant, was designed to provide hot water for space heating needs.The results showed a close agreement, within 6.2%, between the predicted and experimental coefficient of performance values.Additionally, the study explored the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants, including R152a, R450A, R513A, R1234yf, and R1234ze, as potential replacements for R134a.While R152a exhibited promising performance in terms of coefficient of performance, its flammability raised safety concerns.The heating system employing R450A, R513A, R1234yf, and R1234ze displayed slightly lower coefficient of performance values (2-3%) compared to R134a.The analysis revealed that the compressor was the primary source of exergy destruction, followed by the expansion valve, evaporator, and condenser.Given their low flammability and reduced environmental impact, R450A, R513A, R1234yf, and R1234ze emerged as valuable alternatives to R134a.