Abstract
This study was conducted to promote consumer interest in Geothermal Heat Pump (Ground Source Heat Pump, GSHP) and district heating and cooling (District Heating & Cooling, DHC) systems, which are competing with each other in the heating and cooling field. Considering not only the required cost data of energy itself, but also external influence factors, the optimal mix ratio of these two energy systems was studied as follows. The quantitative data of the two energy systems was entered into a database and the non-quantitative factors of external influence were applied in the form of coefficients. Considering both of these factors, the optimal mix ratio of GSHP and DHC systems and minimum Life Cycle Cost (LCC) were obtained using an algorithm model design. The Optimal Energy Mix of GSHP & DHC (OEMGD) algorithm was developed using a software program (Octave 4.0). The numerical result was able to reflect the variety of external influence factors through the OEMGD algorithm. The OEMGD model found that the DHC system is more economical than the GSHP system and was able to represent the optimal energy mix ratio and LCC of mixed energy systems according to changes in the external influences. The OEMGD algorithm could be of help to improve the consumers' experience and rationalize their energy usage.