RESIST (Re-envisioning Energy System Infrastructure and Storage Technology) Lab
Reducing Costs for Space- and Water-Heating in Multifamily Buildings
Duration: May 2024 - July 2024
As part of a multi-institution research initiative led by Prof. Helmns and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy,
I contributed to the modeling and validation of a novel combined space and water heating system. The project tackles critical
cost and performance barriers to electrified heating by integrating an air-to-water heat pump with phase change material thermal
energy storage (PCM TES) — allowing efficient heating during off-peak, renewable-heavy grid periods.
Modeled and validated a field-demonstrated heat pump + PCM TES system using Modelica, comparing simulations with live performance
data to identify and resolve discrepancies.
Extended the validated model to scalable use cases for multifamily residential buildings in cold climates using Model-Based Design.
Explored thermal system design and controls to enhance energy flexibility and efficiency through heat pump integration with thermal storage.
Contributed to a research paper under review for publication with the U.S Department of Energy.
This work enables building-scale decarbonization by simulating complex thermal interactions before deployment — significantly reducing development time and cost.