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
4.1 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 or buffer tank, with the heating
and hot water being taken from that 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.
With
NIBE air source heat pump systems, we would usually
see the use of backup electricity for the home
heating at around 200kwh's per year; so an extremely
low amount. It would usually be provided in the
form of a 3-stage electric immersion heater.
Air
Source Heat Pump Cost
The
typical cost for an air source heat pump installation
is £10,000. 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 5 years.
Air
Source Heat Pumps do not require any ground works
during the installation of the unit.The
cost of ground works for the alternative ground
source heat pump systems can be large, and normally
play a big role in the design of the total system.
Often people simply do not have the land available
for the ground source heat pump, this is where
the air source heat pump stands apart from the
rest.
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 up to temperatures
as high as 58°C which is suitable for all domestic
and commercial requirements. This will require
a tank which is specified to the usage of the
homeowner 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
2015 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 60%, 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.
There are two basic
air source heat pump systems. The first being
where the air source heat pump works with another
heat source such as a boiler; in this system the
air source covers heating as much as it can with
the boiler kicking in when needed. The second
system, the more popular system, is where the
air source heat pumps covers the heating and hot
water production for the home on its own. This
system only rely's on a very small amount of electric
backup each year (typically 200 kwh's).
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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Air
Source Heat Pump Docking Options
Solar Thermal with Air Source Heat Pump
A
commonly installed system is solar hot water panels
docked to air source heat pump. They key thing
to this system is the solar hot water cylinder.
NIBE make a dedicated VPAS solar cylinder, which
allows easy docking of an air source heat pump
and solar thermal together. The solar coil is
positioned so that the panels benefit the hot
water and heating system, thus getting the most
out of the solar. Although we design the air source
heat pump to still manage the system on its own,
the solar thermal is seen as an added bonus of
energy, that will reduce running costs where it
can.
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. This acts as the 'brains'
of the system.
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. This system is quite often
used in large scale commercial or network heating
distribution systems.
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 with
extra heating coil 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 air source heat pumps operation. This setup
ensures the air source heat pump is not working
unnecessarily when the stove is giving heat to
the cylinder. The NIBE thermal store used in this
system also allows the wood burning stove to contribute
to both the central heating and hot water production
in the home.
Exhaust Air Heat Pump and
Air Source Heat Pump
Some
NBIE exhaust air heat pump models can be 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 to the homeowner.
Air Source
Heat Pump Installation Pictures
Solo
Heating Installations recommend NIBE Air Source
Heat pumps.
The
cost of ground works for the alternative ground
source heat pump systems can be large, and normally
play a big role in the design of the total system.
Often people simply do not have the land available
for the ground source heat pump, this is where
the air source heat pump stands apart from the
rest.
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.
A
commonly installed system is solar hot water panels
docked to air source heat pump. They key thing
to this system is the solar hot water cylinder.
NIBE make a dedicated VPAS solar cylinder, which
allows easy docking of an air source heat pump
and solar thermal together. The solar coil is
positioned so that the panels benefit the hot
water and heating system, thus getting the most
out of the solar. Although we design the air source
heat pump to still manage the system on its own,
the solar thermal is seen as an added bonus of
energy, that will reduce running costs where it
can.
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. This acts as the 'brains'
of the system.
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. This system is quite often
used in large scale commercial or network heating
distribution systems.
A
wood burning stove with a back boiler can be docked
to an air source heat pump. A thermal store with
extra heating coil 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 air source heat pumps operation. This setup
ensures the air source heat pump is not working
unnecessarily when the stove is giving heat to
the cylinder. The NIBE thermal store used in this
system also allows the wood burning stove to contribute
to both the central heating and hot water production
in the home.
Some
NBIE exhaust air heat pump models can be 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 to the homeowner.
