Risk and reliability assessment of solar-assisted air source heat pumps using fuzzy logic-based failure modes and effects analysis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2025
Abstract
Solar-assisted air source heat pumps (SAASHP) offer promising solutions for energy-efficient heating applications. Despite extensive research on SAASHP system design and optimization, significant gaps remain in understanding the failure modes and their effects on system performance and reliability. This paper presents an improved fuzzy logic-based failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) model to evaluate failure effects in SAASHP systems, with a particular focus on how these risks affect system reliability while enhancing energy management. The model incorporates weighted expert judgment with fuzzy logic rules to achieve more precise assessments. Forty-three failure modes are identified for SAASHP, forming the foundation for designing reliability improvements and preventive maintenance. The study identifies critical components and failure modes with the highest risk priority numbers (RPN), including structural instability, connection integrity, sensor accuracy, and circuit reliability. Results show that Fuzzy-RPN scores generally follow a normal distribution. The scores are categorized into five risk levels: minimal, low, moderate, high, and extreme risk. Moderate risk accounted for the highest proportion, at 34.88 % of the total risk. Additionally, an outlier with an RPN score of 960.0 in the extreme risk category indicates a need for immediate attention. To mitigate these risks and improve energy management, targeted maintenance strategies and preventive measures are recommended, including regular monitoring of high-risk areas, robust design elements, and enhanced control systems. The findings confirm that improving system reliability and proactively managing energy use can extend the lifespan of SAASHP systems, reduce maintenance costs, enhance operational efficiency and support broader adoption.
Keywords
Air source heat pump, Solar, Reliability, Energy management, Failure effects
Divisions
Computer,sch_ecs,mechanical
Funders
Research on the Combined Operation of Low-Grade Renewable Energy Stations in Cold Regions,International Joint Research on Renewable Energy Heating and Cooling in Hebei Province [Grant No: JLZHKF02002 ; 20594501D],Key Laboratory of Architectural Cold Climate Energy Management, Ministry of Education, Jilin Jianzhu University [Grant No: JLJZHDKF202206]
Publication Title
Journal of Building Engineering
Volume
103
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS