The Future of Central Heating Today
Are you building or renovating your home?
Are you interested in equipping your home with a heating system with a longer service life and lower energy costs? Or, would you like to combine quality of life with environmental preservation?
Let us introduce you to what is currently the most efficient system in terms of indoor comfort: the heat pump.
This is a gentle but cutting-edge technology whose benefits, both for the user and for Mother Nature, have been amply demonstrated.
Heat pumps are used to extract calories (heat) contained in the outside air, even in cold weather. Using a compressor, they are capable of very effectively heating the inside of a home. The only input that heat pumps require to make the system work is electricity: the heat they produce is entirely drawn from the outside air. Electricity use is thus minimum and far lower than that of an electric space-heater, for example. It is a simple equation: using heat pumps, 75% of the energy consumed to heat your home is found in the outside air: it is thus free of charge and… renewable!
Quiet and discrete, heat pumps are currently the most advanced technology used to equip homes and buildings with low energy consumption.
WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO HEAT YOUR LIVING SPACE?
Most of today’s heating systems depend on what are known as “fossil fuel” (unrenewable) energy sources, such as oil or gas.
Besides having a harmful effect on our environment, these energy sources are becoming scarcer, which makes them more and more expensive.
Since a heat pump uses a renewable source of energy that allows it to maintain a reduced level of electric power consumption, and since it takes really good care of your comfort by allowing you to control your inside temperature all year long, it is clearly the most effective solution for your heating needs, starting today and for many, many tomorrows
HEATING HOT WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE
Some heat pumps, such as Altherma, also allow you to enjoy the year-round benefits of hot water for your entire household. In summer, the system reverses itself: the fluid in the circuit absorbs heat from a room and gives it off outdoors. A heat transfer fluid, harmless to the ozone layer, circulates in a closed circuit inside the system in order to transfer heat to and from the air outside and inside your home.
Heat pumps absorb free energy (heat) from a low-temperature source (air,water or ground) and upgrade it to a higher temperature, via the refrigerant cycle, (like your fridge at home but in reverse (fig.2). Efficiency ratios range from 3:1 to 5:1 (300-500%), i.e. for each 1kW of electricity consumed between 3kW - 5kW of heat energy can be transferred (conventional fossil fuel boilers are around 70 - 90% efficient) - Therefore heat pumps are more cost effective, eco-friendly and use renewable energy for the greater good of our environment.
The refrigerant cycle comprises of 4 essential components (fig.1).
- The Evaporator - absorbs heat from renewable source (air, water, ground).
- The Compressor - raises pressure hence temperature of absorbed heat.
- The Condenser - rejects upgraded heat to the source inside (air or water).
- The Expansion Device – reduces pressure/temperature to allow evaporation (Heat absorption) at low temperatures.
Note: Boiling temperature of water = 100 degC.
Refrigerant boiling temperature = minus (-40 ~ -50 ° C)
Altherma is extremely efficient with an average UK Seasonal Performance Factor* of 3.2 (320%).
The Altherma heat pump is a low carbon, energy saving heating/hot water system, incorporating the latest heat exchanger and inverter technology. Operating with R-410A, an energy efficient non-ozone depleting, non-toxic, non corrosive, non-explosive refrigerant and utilising state-of-the-art electronic controls with unique twin temperature settings for heating and hot water. The technologies incorporated in Altherma are harmonised to achieve the highest recorded operating efficiencies in all weather conditions.
- High efficiency - can be up to 5.1 (500%)
- Reducing health and safety risks, Daikin Altherma requires no flues, no ventilation and no gas supply (no combustion)
- Operation down to -20°C ambient temperature efficiently
- Low starting current and no power surge due to inverter technology
- Automatic weekly legionella protection
- Manufactured by Daikin Europe N.V., one of the largest dedicated heat pump manufacturers in the world
- Daikin Altherma is the most accredited air to water heat pump on the market.
* SPF: Season Performance Factor is the total energy output ÷ by total energy consumed during the whole year.
It can be expressed as a factor e.g. 3.2:1 or as a percentage. SPF relies on ambient temperatures and selection of equipment and can range from 3 - 5.
- 84% of energy consumed at home is for heating and hot water
- UK annual average ambient temperature ranges between 8-11°C
- The UK climate is considered ideal for air source heat pumps due to mild temperature conditions.
- The Daikin Altherma utilises R-410A refrigerant
- R -410A refrigerant has a boiling point of [minus] -53 o C, water has a temperature boiling point of 100 o C
The lower the heating temperature - the more efficient the boiler (Gas, Oil or Heat Pump),
- the more comfortable the heating temperature,
- the less danger from scalding (heating or hot water),
- the lower the energy losses from distribution pipes + domestic hot water tank.
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The most popular and versatile system is the low/medium temperature Split range (Classic) which is ideal for all housing of any size both new build and retro-fit and can be modular (multiple units). . The system consists of 2 parts - an outdoor heat pump and indoor hydro-box reaching temperatures up to 55 o C on its own without additional back up heater.
Available in 6 capacities single phase and three phase. For heating and hot water there are 3 cylinder sizes available (150/200/300L).
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Further information on Altherma heat pumps
For further details, and to arrange a consultation, please contact us.
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