Air source heat pumps are a versatile solution for many types of heating installations. How heat pumps work? Can they be used in existing houses? Do these devices require connection to electricity? You will find the answer to all these questions in our article.
Popularity of heat pumps in Poland is constantly growing. These devices offer cheap thermal energy. Their advantage is that they can heat houses and other buildings almost cost-free if they use the electricity generated by the plant. photovoltaic installation. How the heat pump works?
How does an air-to-air heat pump work??
Principle of operation of a heat pump is based on the consumption of thermal energy from renewable energy sources (in case of heat pumps air-air, the lower heat source is outside air) and transferring it to heating installation. Generally air-to-air heat pump it can operate similarly to other heat sources such as coal, gas or electric boilers. Importantly, such heating system based on air heat pump can be used for both space heating, as well as for preparation hot water.
How an air heat pump works? Heat pumps are powered devices Electricity. Electricity connection is necessary for the heat pump to operate. Operating costs resulting from electricity consumption can be minimized by connecting the system to photovoltaic panels.
So how the heat pump works? In the first step of the cycle heat pump air-air or air-water heat pump draws air from outside the device (from the room or from outside the building), which releases the accumulated energy to refrigerant. This process takes place in the heat exchanger (evaporator) air heat pump and as a result refrigerant is heated and changes its state from liquid to gas. In this state, it goes to the compressor, where it increases his pressure and temperature. Hot refrigerant it is then transferred to the next heat exchanger (condenser), in which the refrigerant gives off useful heat to air or water (upper heat source). The water heated in this way is transferred to heating installation. In case of heat pumps air-to-air type thermal energy is used to heat the air blown by the air conditioner. The last stage of the cycle is the transition of the cooled medium, which as a result of releasing energy into a warm state, to expansion valve, where the reduction occurs his pressure, then the liquid medium is transferred to the heat exchanger (evaporator), and the energy transfer cycle in air heat pump starts again.
How an air heat pump works in winter? Air source heat pumps they cope perfectly during the cold periods of the year low temperatures. It is worth emphasizing that outside air with a negative temperature also has a lot of stored air amount of energy thermal. Air-to-air heat pump i air-water heat pump they cope perfectly at temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius, and some devices dedicated to heating also at lower temperatures - even down to -25 degrees Celsius. Which is why heat pump is the perfect solution for home heating in an ecological and emission-free way.
It is also worth adding that heat pumps They are useful not only for heating buildings in winter, but also for summer cooling rooms. Air heat pumps-air is nothing else than air conditioning commonly used in private and public buildings. Air-water heat pumps they are also suitable for cooling rooms - fan coil units are used for this purpose. Meaning that an air source heat pump removes heat from the room.
In what installations does it work? air source heat pump?
Air source heat pumps they are a versatile solution for heating various types of buildings and are used in various heating installations. They work particularly well in heating installations in single-family and multi-family houses. Heat pump air-air and air-water heat pump it can also be used for heating plants and public facilities. What is important, heat pumps can be successfully used in both new and already used buildings.
It is worth emphasizing that central heating installation based on air heat pump works best in installations using surfaces heating with a heat pump intended for low-temperature heating. Air source heat pump works perfectly in installations such as floor heating, because it can efficiently provide low-temperature heat, which is ideal for this type of solution. It is also the most efficient, energy-saving and economical method of heating when used heat pumps.
Heat pumps they can also be used to heat water, which is then transferred to traditional radiators in the building. In such an installation, it is important to select an appropriately efficient unit air heat pump, which will be able to ensure adequate heating efficiency in the colder months. High temperatures are used in such systems heat pumps, which are characterized by higher electricity consumption to heat the water circulating in heating installation.
What can it be used for air heat pump apart from heating buildings? Air source heat pumps are also commonly used for preparation hot water. Moreover, there are devices that are designed exclusively for heating domestic water. Such air heat pump is usually used in facilities where building heating is carried out by other heat sources - pellet, gas or coal boilers. Separation from the heating system makes it air heat pump can heat domestic water all year round.
Other types heat pumps
It is worth emphasizing that air source heat pumps-air or air-to-water heat pumps These are not the only types of devices using renewable energy sources for heating house. There are alternatives to such solutions ground heat pumps. Interestingly, it is ground heat pump ensure lower operating coststhan in the case of air ones heat pumps. Ground heat pumps they download thermal energy from the ground, which has the same temperature at a certain depth at all times of the year. Ground heat pumps however, they are much more expensive than other types of pumps, but at the same time they provide an extremely stable and cheap source of thermal energy.
Where does the high cost of installing a ground-based installation come from? heat pump? This is key lower heat source, which may be a horizontal collector located at a depth of approximately 1,5 m or a more expensive vertical collector that requires drilling holes up to 50 m deep and more. It is worth adding that currently the most popular type of land is land heat pump with a vertical collector, because it requires only several dozen square meters, unlike a horizontal collector, which requires an area of up to several hundred square meters.
Ground heat pumps can be used for both home heating and other facilities and preparation hot water, as well as to room cooling during the summer.
Does the heat pump work when there is no electricity?
Air source heat pump works by converting thermal energy from one medium to another using electricity. Therefore, if the power goes out, air heat pump will not be able to work continuously in its standard mode. It should be emphasized that this also applies to systems with photovoltaic installation connected to the public network.
The solution to such a problem is to have in the facility, in addition air heat pump, an alternative heating system (e.g. a fireplace), which will be able to maintain the appropriate temperature in the rooms during a power outage.
