Choosing the right heat pump demands proper care and consideration. The variables affecting the performance and efficiency are numerous, and striking the optimal balance between application, performance and cost can be tricky.
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In recent years, heat pumps have become increasingly popular in chilling and heating applications, in large part due to superior energy performance. But where you used to optimize for example chiller performance by dimensioning it for the maximum expected outside ambient temperature (OAT), the optimal heat pump is trickier to pick. Unfortunately, there is no one-unit-to-solve-it-all heat pump, capable of covering the needs of every possible application.
Firstly, while chillers are mostly used in southern Europe, heat pumps can be used within a wide range of OATs in the EU &#; from the chilly winter climate up north to the mild mid-season conditions in the south.
Secondly, different heat pumps are designed to produce water of temperatures between 20 and 80 degrees Celsius, depending on the application.
Thirdly, reversible heat pumps are usually optimized for either heating or cooling. To add to the complexity, the refrigerant of choice will also affect performance. In general, we would recommend a propane-based refrigerant &#; they have excellent properties in low OATs and for producing high water temperature. So, these are a few of the factors you need to consider before picking the best unit for your needs.
Another factor to consider is the fact that heat pumps, unlike chillers, produce excess water from dehumidifying the air. In cooler climates, this can manifest as ice around the coils, turning to water during the defrosting cycles. If you switch out an existing chiller for a heat pump, you have to also provide a solution to catch and take care of this excess water.
In heat pump designed for milder climate, a condensate drain tray caught and led away the excess water. This, however, turned out to be insufficient for the Nordic countries.
Swegon has designed a new and improved, tray, which provides a perfect outflow of the water
. We are also developing better logic for defrosting the coils, customized for the Nordic climate.
In this way, we can for example avoid ice formation when the unit is stopped for an extended amount of time.
We are looking at ways to optimize defrosting even further
, for example by having control systems stagger the defrosting of heat pumps in a system, avoiding the simultaneous shutting down of all units.
To conclude, there are quite a few things to consider when you are in the market for a heat pump &#; not only the application, but climate conditions and other factors will affect the choice.
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February 8, / Industry News
Are you looking to invest in a heat pump? You are not alone -- many entrepreneurs are making the switch.
Heat pumps have been repeatedly identified as a key, cost-effective solution for tackling the carbon emissions associated with keeping buildings warm at international, regional and national levels. The costs of manufacturing the pumps have also declined significantly over the last decade, which bolsters the case for heat pumps.
The global heat pump market size is expected to expand at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from to . The industry growth is expected to be driven by increased demand for energy-efficient and cost-effective space heating and cooling applications in residential and commercial housing in the future.
If you want to invest in the products, you can consider the following factors before purchasing the right for your customers or your own commercial buildings.
Types of heat pump
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Air-source, water-source, and ground-source are a few main types of heat pumps. Air Source technology is expected to dominate the market in the U.S. over the forecast period due to that air source is the quickest and easiest to install and it looks like a normal air conditioning unit. You can use these units to generate hot water or hot air, some units can also incorporate a reversing valve to operate in cooling mode also. The main heat pump products from Smad are air-sourced, if you need to know the installation procedures or other requirements, you are welcome to leave your questions.
Ground source is the second most popular option, it's more commonly used for hot water production but you can also get units and systems that can reverse to provide cooling. It uses thermal energy embedded within the ground that comes from the sun. This option requires extensive excavation however and is typically costlier to install, so it's best suited to new builds as it can be incorporated within the construction to reduce costs.
Water-source heat pumps draw heat from a pond, lake, or water deposit, Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Compressor Type
The compressor is the core component of a heat pump. It is the primary factor that determines whether the heat pump is good or bad. What counts is not merely the energy efficiency of the compressor but also the limits placed on applications by the evaporating and condensing temperatures, highly durable mechanical parts and quiet operation. Moves the refrigerant through the system. Smad heat pumps contain a scroll compressor. When compared to a piston compressor, scroll compressors are quieter, have a longer lifespan, and provide 10° to 15°F warmer air when in the heating mode. A good heat pump compressor will offer an outstanding seasonal performance factor that is kind to both natural resources and the operator's wallet. It will also be as flexible as possible as regards evaporation and condensing temperatures and will emit no obtrusive noise. With good compressors, there will be no stopping the triumphal progress of the heat pump.
Efficiency
Looking at a heat pump's ratings can help, but don't focus exclusively on that. Almost any heat pump offers such major advantages over traditional equipment that it's usually not necessary to seek out the absolute highest metrics within the heat pump category. There are many standards used across the world for assessing the efficiency of heat pumps. I'm going to take one of the most common ones as an example, focusing on units made in the US and EU.
COP: COP values or the coefficient of performance is used worldwide for both heating and cooling, it's simply the heating or cooling output divided by the electricity input. It's not a good indicator of efficiency however because it only gives a snapshot of how a unit should perform under very precise conditions. For example, a unit has a heating COP of 2.9 and that is achieved when the outside air is -3°C DB/-4°C WB (26.6°F DB/24.8°F WB) while providing 35°C (95°F) water for 8.3 kW of heating and consuming 2.86 kW of electricity. As the outside air temperature varies hourly and daily, this isn't a good indication of efficiency. We reviewed the manufacturer literature of many air source units and found them to vary between 2.75 and 6.13.
Refrigerant type
A refrigerant, also known as a cooling agent, is a thermodynamic medium involved in the process of heat exchange in a piece of cooling equipment or heat pump.
While there are currently heat pumps operating with various working media in the market, several of these may be considered the most popular.
By refrigerant type, the heat pump market is segmented into R410A, R290, R32, and others. The R410A and R290 segment holds the largest share in the market. The refrigerant can boost the system's efficiency rating. The minimum effect on the ozone layer is expected to drive the R410A and R290 refrigerant segment of the heat pump market during the forecast period.
Those were some of the essential factors that you need to consider when looking for heat pumps. If you are interested in heat pump products, please feel free to let us know.
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