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 air source
heat pump such a viable heating alternative, and
how do they 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
3.6 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 electricity to power a compressor, which
forces gaseous refrigerant through small
holes to create heat. This heat is transferred
to your heating system, and it's this cycle
which make 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
do not require any land or ground works
so are considerably cheaper to install.
They are around 15% less efficient than
the ground source heat pump alternative,
but even with this taken into account the
payback periods are extremely low.
Solo
can integrate Air Source Heat Pumps with your
new system by incorporating a Thermal
Store as the centre point of the installation.
The air source heat pump would directly heat the
thermal store of buffer tank, with the heating
and hot water being taken from the cylinder.
A backup heat energy is often needed for air source
heat pump systems to work correctly. Because of
the temperamental weather, the air source heat
pump will need a backup heat source in extreme
loading conditions. This backup heat can be provided
by many different fuel types and renewable energies.
We can design a system around your wants and requirements,
giving a fully automated efficient heating system
all year round.
Air
Source Heat Pump Cost
The
typical cost for an air source heat pump installation
is £8,500. All systems we quote will come with
a NIBE heat pump energy savings and running cost
comparison sheet; which takes into account all
variables to give an extremely accurate prediction
on the eventual savings. Against an existing oil,
LPG or electricity system, air source heat pumps
have proven to have excellent payback periods,
usually less than 10 years. Against gas this increases,
as the current Kwh unit gas price is comparably
low.
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.
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.
Contrary
to common belief, air source heat pumps are very
quiet in operation and are comparable in sound
to a fridge freezer. In new homes or properties
meeting current sound insulation standards, the
noise from a heat pump is minimal. We invite anyone
who is considering an Air Source Heat Pump to
come and see one in action for themselves.
NIBE
2005 Air Source Heat Pump
Overview
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. The air source
heat pump 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 joint operations 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.
Air source heat pumps often cover the majority
of the heating and hot water requirements for
the home. However, because of the temperamental
outdoor weather, we often need to include a backup
source of heat energy alongside the air source
heat pump. These can include many forms of energy,
with the key ones outlined below.
NIBE VVM Hot Water Cylinder
NIBE
VVM 300 is an unvented hot water cylinder and
electric boiler in one. It consists of a double
jacketed water cylinder, (a small scale thermal
store) two immersion heaters and intelligent controls.
VVM 300 is designed for connection and communication
with all NIBE air source heat pumps.
If the air source
heat pump cannot meet the heating requirement,
additional heat is shunted in from VVM 300. When
the outside temperature drops below a certain
pre-determined point, the 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.
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Oil Boiler with Air Source
Heat Pump
Oil
boilers can be docked to air source heat pumps
to provide higher temperature range heating and
hot water requirements. When air source heat pumps
are docked to oil boilers, settings in the heat
pump's controller ensure the air source heat pump
provides lower temperature range heating, with
the oil boiler covering the hotter temperatures.
This combination is made to give the most economical
operation of the entire system. In NIBE heat pump
systems, the oil boilers operation is controlled
by a separate air source heat pump controller
known as the SMO10.
Gas Boiler and Air Source
Heat Pump
Gas
boilers are docked to air source heat pumps in
much the same way as oil boilers, with only a
few control and installation differences. When
the air source heat pump is docked to a gas condensing
boiler, settings in the heat pumps controller
ensure the air source heat pump provides lower
temperature range heating, with the gas boiler
covering the hotter temperatures. This combination
is made to give the most economical operation
of the entire system. In NIBE heat pump systems,
the gas boilers operation is controlled by a separate
air source heat pump controller known as the SMO10.
Wood Burning Stove and
Air Source Heat Pump
A
wood burning stove with a back boiler can be docked
to an air source heat pump. A thermal store will
be installed, which will allow connection and
docking to the wood burning stove. When the stove
is providing hot water to the cylinder, the cylinders
sensor will sense the rise in temperature and
automatically block the immersion heaters operation.
It is this way the air source heat pump and immersion
heater do not contribute unnecessarily to the
system whilst the wood burning stove is in operation.
Exhaust Air Heat Pump and
Air Source Heat Pump
Some
exhaust air heat pump models can be successfully
docked to an air source heat pump. The air source
heat pump will provide the base load for the heating
and hot water system, with the exhaust air heat
pump giving an extra boost where needed. During
the most part of operation, the exhaust air heat
pump concentrates on the hot water requirements
for the home. When these systems are setup correctly
and in full operation, they will provide extremely
low annual running costs.
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 are very
quiet in operation and are comparable in sound
to a fridge freezer. In new homes or properties
meeting current sound insulation standards, the
noise from a heat pump is minimal. We invite anyone
who is considering 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. The air source
heat pump converts the energy of the outside air
into heat and creates a comfortable temperature
inside the house.
Oil
boilers can be docked to air source heat pumps
to provide higher temperature range heating and
hot water requirements. When air source heat pumps
are docked to oil boilers, settings in the heat
pump's controller ensure the air source heat pump
provides lower temperature range heating, with
the oil boiler covering the hotter temperatures.
This combination is made to give the most economical
operation of the entire system. In NIBE heat pump
systems, the oil boilers operation is controlled
by a separate air source heat pump controller
known as the SMO10.
A
wood burning stove with a back boiler can be docked
to an air source heat pump. A thermal store will
be installed, which will allow connection and
docking to the wood burning stove. When the stove
is providing hot water to the cylinder, the cylinders
sensor will sense the rise in temperature and
automatically block the immersion heaters operation.
It is this way the air source heat pump and immersion
heater do not contribute unnecessarily to the
system whilst the wood burning stove is in operation.
Some
exhaust air heat pump models can be successfully
docked to an air source heat pump. The air source
heat pump will provide the base load for the heating
and hot water system, with the exhaust air heat
pump giving an extra boost where needed. During
the most part of operation, the exhaust air heat
pump concentrates on the hot water requirements
for the home. When these systems are setup correctly
and in full operation, they will provide extremely
low annual running costs.
