Air Source Heat Pumps are becoming an increasingly
popular choice for home heating. They can be installed
in new homes and just as easily retrofitted into
renovation projects. But what makes it such a
viable heating alternative, and how does it work?
Quite simply, the air source heat pump has a motor
powered by electricity that supplies more energy
than it consumes. For every kw unit of energy
purchased as electricity, around four units of
heat are delivered.
Heating
System
Air from the
outside.
The
unit itself works on pressurising refrigerant
to create a heat output. Imagine a refrigerator
but working backwards. Air source heat pumps
use electrical current to power a compressor
that forces gaseous refrigerant through
a small hole to create heat. This heat is
transferred to your heating medium and it's
this cycle which makes air source heat pumps
so efficient.
We
recommend Air Source Heat Pumps as a viable
alternative to Ground
Source Heat Pumps. Air Source Heat Pumps
work with underfloor heating more effectively
than radiators because of the lower operating
temperatures.
Solo
can integrate Air Source Heat Pumps with your
new system by incorporating Thermal
Store Buffer Tanks and a backup heat source
such as Electric Immersion Heaters that eliminate
the need for any gas or oil on site.
For
installations over 12kw, Air Source Heat Pumps
installed by Solo Heating Installations will require
a 3-phase electrical supply. Below 12kw will only
require a standard single phase supply, this is
because the NIBE Air Source Heat Pump units installed
by Solo use soft start mechanisms.
Applications
of Air Source Heat Pumps
Air Source Heat
Pumps do not incur any civil ground work costs
for the
installation and laying of pipe. The cost of civil
ground works can be significant using the alternative
Ground Source Heat Pump systems, this is not a
consideration that is required for Air Source
Heat Pumps. This gives Air Source a significant
advantage over Ground Source versions.
Air source heat
pumps provide an alternative low cost solution
for space heating and hot water. A typical return
on investment against Oil and LPG fed heating
systems can take as little as 5 years.
Air Source Heat
Pumps also provide hot water from a pressurised
system up to temperatures as high as 55°C which
is suitable for all domestic and commercial requirements.
This will require a tank which is specified to
the usage of the tenants or usage of the building.
The larger the tank, the larger the output of
water.
Expect to pay Between
£7500 and £9500 to install domestic sized heat
pumps. Just like all products there is a wide
range of quality and efficiency available.
Contrary
to common belief, air source heat pumps run almost
silently and are comparable in sound to a fridge
freezer. In new timber frame buildings or properties
meeting current sound insulation standards, the
noise from heat pumps is minimal.We invite anyone
who is worried about the noise from an Air Source
Heat Pump to come and see one in action for themselves.
Installation
of NIBE air source heat pumps can lead to your
energy consumption for heating being reduced by
up to 50%, in comparison to conventional heating
systems.
You
should choose NIBE air source heat pumps if it's
not possible to drill a ground probe or install
a surface absorber on your property. This converts
the energy of the outside air into heat and creates
a comfortable temperature inside the house.
Although none of
the Air Source Heat Pumps available will fully
cover your heating requirements year round, this
type of heat pump does offer economic benefits.
In bivalent operation it covers the majority of
the heating requirements in a very economical
manner, therefore the existing heating system
only needs to cover the peak periods. In mono-energetic
operation, i.e. Air Source Heat Pumps in combination
with an immersion heater, the heat pumps will
cover heating by itself and the immersion heater
is only activated during extreme peak periods.
Key
Points:
NIBE
FIGHTER 2005 and 2020 air source heat pumps utilise
the energy of the outside air. Therefore, neither
a ground probe nor a surface collector is required.
In comparison
to traditional air source heat pumps, FIGHTER
2005 and 2020 heat pumps have a two-stage ventilator
achieve much greater economy.
NIBE
FIGHTER 2005 heat pumps are available in sizes
8 and 11 for single-phase 230V. FIGHTER 2020 air
source heat pumps are available in sizes 8, 10
and 14 kW for three phase 400V and 230V.
We claim that
the NIBE FIGHTER 2005 and 2020 air source heat
pumps can transform an existing radiator system
into an excellent, complete heating system.
Together
with NIBE's VVM 300, FIGHTER 2005 or 2020 air
source heat pumps create a complete heating and
hot water unit.
NIBE VVM Hot Water Cylinder
/ Air Source Heat Pump
NIBE
VVM 300 is an electric boiler designed for houses
with water borne heating. It consists of a double
jacketed pressure vessel, two immersion heaters
and intelligent controls. VVM 300 is designed
for connection and communication with air source
heat pumps FIGHTER 2005 and FIGHTER 2020 of 8
kW and 10 kW.
VVM
300, together with FIGHTER 2005/2020 air source
heat pumps, creates a complete heating and hot
water unit. VVM 300 is equipped with a control
box that currently makes it the most economical
operator, regarding both for the integrated immersion
heaters (max 13.5 kW) and compressor operation
in FIGHTER 2005/2020 air source heat pumps.
VVM 300 comes
complete with an automatic by-pass, three way
valve, circulation pumps, and safety equipment.
VVM is designed for simple connection to FIGHTER
2005/2020 air source heat pumps.
VVM
300 controls FIGHTER 2005/2020 air source heat
pumps, which runs with floating condensation towards
the heating system.
If FIGHTER 2005/2020
air source heat pumps cannot meet the heating
requirement, additional heat is shunted in from
VVM 300. When the outside temperature drops below
the set stop temperature VVM 300 engages and takes
over the heating.
The
VVM 300 is designed to bring the efficiency of
a NIBE air source heat pump system to its highest
level. It works with the air source heat pump
automatically to control hot water and heating
for your home.
Exhaust Air Heat Pumps
An
increasingly popular request is an air source
heat pump system combined with a heat recovery
unit. Solo can install such systems that incorporate
both technologies into one. The NIBE 410P exhaust
air heat pump uses otherwise wasted heat in the
warm air areas of your home (bathrooms, utility..)
and transfers that heat to hot water using the
same principles as air source heat pumps.
The only drawback
to the exhaust air units is their efficiency is
lower than that of air source heat pumps. They
will cover your heating and hot water requirements
and will only need backup power in adverse or
extreme loading conditions. On the NIBE 410P units
there are in-built immersion heaters that supply
extra heat energy, but docking can be made to
other heat sources such as gas boilers, oil boilers,
solar panels or even wood burning stoves. The
units are only suitable for properties around
100 square metres or less as there output is comparatively
low compared to the air source or ground source
alternatives.
Use this interactive
diagram to see how these systems will work within
your home:
NIBE 410 Exhaust Air Heat
Pumps - Overview
As the Code for
Sustainable Homes becomes ever tighter for new
build homes, properties are having to comply with
tough ventilation and air recovery targets. The
best way to acheive this is by specifying is a
heat recovery system. The NIBE 410P exhaust air
heat pump is the ideal way to ventilate and control
humidity in your home.
With the NIBE
410P Exhaust Air Heat Pump, the controlled domestic
ventilation with heat recovery via a heat pump
is combined with heating the domestic hot water,
supply air and providing heating.
The weather-controlled
microprocessor continually ensures the system's
efficient operation and guarantees a constant
room temperature as part of this. This is set
by adjusting the radiator thermostats. The NIBE
FIGHTER 410P exhaust air heat pump has additional
heating in the form of an integrated immersion
heater, which switches on automatically between
2x3.0 and 3x3.0 kW, only when required, as the
basic heating function is provided by the heat
pump.
The operator panel
has all its switches and buttons arranged in a
user-friendly manner, making it easy to operate
the heat pump and change settings if needed.
The NIBE
FIGHTER 410P exhaust air heat pump is ideal both
for low-temperature radiator systems and underfloor
heating.
Solo Heating
Installations recommend NIBE Air Source Heat pumps.
he
installation and laying of pipe. The cost of civil
ground works can be significant using the alternative
Ground Source Heat Pump systems, this is not a
consideration that is required for Air Source
Heat Pumps. This gives Air Source a significant
advantage over Ground Source versions.
Contrary
to common belief, air source heat pumps run almost
silently and are comparable in sound to a fridge
freezer. In new timber frame buildings or properties
meeting current sound insulation standards, the
noise from heat pumps is minimal.We invite anyone
who is worried about the noise from an Air Source
Heat Pump to come and see one in action for themselves.
You
should choose NIBE air source heat pumps if it's
not possible to drill a ground probe or install
a surface absorber on your property. This converts
the energy of the outside air into heat and creates
a comfortable temperature inside the house.
