Based on the measured data from a typical ground-source heat pump air conditioning project in Wuxi

Jiangsu Province

with the primary objective of minimizing total energy consumption on the ground-source side

an equipment model for optimizing the operating conditions of the ground-source heat pump is constructed in this study. The optimal control strategy is compared with two traditional control strategies

and recommendations for further optimization are presented. The results showed that the optimal control strategy based on the load had a significantly better energy-saving effect than that of the constant-frequency control strategy. On typical test days in winter and summer

it achieved average energy savings of 28.43% and 21.21%

respectively

resulting in energy savings of 3.61% and 2.21%

respectively

when compared to the 5 ℃ temperature difference frequency conversion strategy. Moreover

it was found that the traditional constant temperature difference control strategy should elevate the temperature difference by 1–5 ℃ from the 5 ℃ baseline

to enhance energy savings when the load ratio exceeded 60%. These findings offer valuable guidance for optimizing the variable-flow strategy of ground-source side water systems in ground-source heat pumps.