A heat pump device transfers thermal energy from a heat source to a heat sink. It works like the refrigeration cycle in a refrigerator, but it brings a different effect. The heat pump cycle absorbs heat from the outdoor environment and releases the heat in the indoor environment. This results in the indoor temperature increasing and seeing it higher than the outdoor temperature.

A heat pump ‘pumps’ heat from a lower temperature level to a higher temperature level. The extracted heat is used for example to heat water to a flow temperature of 35- 55 degrees celsius. When it comes to generating hot water, the heat pump needs to ‘pump’ the ‘heat’ to a higher temperate level, to a flow temperature of 55 degrees celsius. The heat pump has to work harder to reach this higher flow temperature, and this requires more electrical energy.

That means:
The higher the required flow temperature, the harder a heat pump needs to work. Therefore, it is extremely important that the temperature difference between the heat source(eg groundwater, brine or air) and thermal heat(e.g. flow temperature for heating) is as small as possible. Below is a schematic diagram of an air source heat pump system. The basic parts of it are a compressor, a high temperature heat exchanger(condenser), a throttling device and a low temperature heat exchanger(evaporator) connecting pipes. The system is charged with a refrigerant and the refrigerant is driven by the compressor allowing it to circulate the system to finish the closed cycle including the compression, condensation, throttling and evaporation processes.

What Exactly are air source heat pumps? temperature heat exchanger(evaporator) connecting pipes. The system is charged with a refrigerant and the refrigerant is driven by the compressor allowing it to circulate the system to finish the closed cycle including the compression, condensation, throttling and evaporation processes.

The air-to-water heat pump(ASHP) usually includes an air source heat pump(water chilling) package and an air source heat pump water heater, and the outdoor heat transfer fluid is air and the indoor one is water.

The air-to-water heat pump (water chilling) package can also be used for calling and heating, the same functions as air-to-air heat pump. A four way valve is also used to switch between the cooling operation mode for cold water and the heating operation mode for hot water, while the air source heat pump water heater has only the heating operation mode for domestic hot water.

The cooling operation model, the four way valve turns off. The outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the water refrigerant heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The refrigerant exasperates and absorbs heat in the evaporator to produce cold water.

The heating operation mode involves the four way valve turning on. The outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger acts as a condenser. The refrigerant condenses and releases heat in the condenser to produce hot water.

When the hot water produced by air source heat pump(water chilling) package is used for space heating, the terminals connecting to the package’s water pipes can be various types, such as radiator floor, radiators and fan coils, etc.

When the air source heat pump proceeds domestic hot water, in most cases, it connected with a water tank, within which the hot water is stored and discharged from when needed.

With these mechanisms, the air source heat pump has the obvious advantages of energy saving, environment protection, economy and safety etc. Under the same heating capacity, although it has a higher initial investment, electric energy consumption is usually less than one third of that the electric water heater and electric boiler effectively reducing the consumption of high grade electric energy. Compared with the natural gas heaters and natural gas boilers, the air source heat pump is safer, more reliable and convenient to operate. And from April 2022, with energy prices rising and the cost of gas rising by 60% more, an ASHP will become economical compared to a natural gas boiler as well. Compared to solar technology and solar water heaters, ASHP’s are more reliable and less affected by the wether and produce hot water 24 hours in all weather conditions.

Currently, great progress and technical achievements on air source heat pump technology have been made. The heating performance and reliability of ASHP’s have been greatly improved and their operating temperature range has been extended.

Get a no obligation quote from us and we’ll explain funding options to you as well. Before we can start, here’s a checklist to make sure your home is ready for a low carbon system:

• You need to be a homeowner
• Your home needs to have enough space outside
• A space for a water tank
• You home needs to have good insulation

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The low carbon systems we install and recommend are considered the best when it comes to cost, efficiency and output. All of our installers are MCS certified and are highly committed to delivering the best service and technical competence.

You can also use our survey to get an estimate of how much it will cost to have one in your home