AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
The effectiveness of this type of installation has significantly progressed in recent years making this type of micro-renewable a more popular choice for properties. Similarly to the process in your fridge this technology uses a compression and expansion cycle but in this case the process is reversed. The outside ambient air is extract through a unit which is placed on the outside of the property. Once processed through the compression cycle a heat exchanger transfers the heat making suitable for use within the home.
The air source heat pump unit does require electricty to operate generating the useful heat. The performance of the heat pump is rated according to its coefficient of performance (CoP), this is the amount electrcial input measured against the heat output in kilo-watts (kW). This is typically 2.0 - 4.0 i.e. 1 kW of electricity could potentially generate 4 kW of heat. A recent report by the Energy Saving Trust on air source heat pumps found varying levels of performance, typically lower than expected with the main findings showing problems with poor installations and insulation.
Heat pump installation has seen varying results, this is due to a non-standardised model to calculate heat demand across the various product ranges. However a recent release from the MCS has given installers the tools to operate from the same platform, reducing some of the previous problems with air source heating.
What does the installation involve?An air source heating system draws in cooler air from the outside of your home, meaning that the the unit itself needs to be placed in an outside area. It is generally a low maintenance technology and copes well in outside conditions, it can even produce heat in freezing temperatures. The heat pump unit is relatively straight forward to install by a suitably qualified installer, however additional retrofit requirements may be more invasive.
In air-to-water systems such as underfloor heating or radiators the heat pump often requires a larger surface area to release sufficient levels of heat in the property. A standard gas central heating system runs at a flow temperature of around 82oC where as heat pumps normally generate 45oC - 55oC, hence the requirement for a larger surface. This is not always the case and further consultation should be taken with an installer.
Air source heat pumps may also be used in an 'air-to-air' system releasing the heat through a convector-style fan in smaller spaces.
Are there any incentives for this type of installation?In short - Yes! The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is available for home owners in preparation for the phase 2 roll out of the Renewable Heat Incentive. Claimants can get £850 towards their air source heat pump installation up until March 2012 (funding is limited!) with the following conditions:
The air source heat pump unit does require electricty to operate generating the useful heat. The performance of the heat pump is rated according to its coefficient of performance (CoP), this is the amount electrcial input measured against the heat output in kilo-watts (kW). This is typically 2.0 - 4.0 i.e. 1 kW of electricity could potentially generate 4 kW of heat. A recent report by the Energy Saving Trust on air source heat pumps found varying levels of performance, typically lower than expected with the main findings showing problems with poor installations and insulation.
Heat pump installation has seen varying results, this is due to a non-standardised model to calculate heat demand across the various product ranges. However a recent release from the MCS has given installers the tools to operate from the same platform, reducing some of the previous problems with air source heating.
What does the installation involve?An air source heating system draws in cooler air from the outside of your home, meaning that the the unit itself needs to be placed in an outside area. It is generally a low maintenance technology and copes well in outside conditions, it can even produce heat in freezing temperatures. The heat pump unit is relatively straight forward to install by a suitably qualified installer, however additional retrofit requirements may be more invasive.
In air-to-water systems such as underfloor heating or radiators the heat pump often requires a larger surface area to release sufficient levels of heat in the property. A standard gas central heating system runs at a flow temperature of around 82oC where as heat pumps normally generate 45oC - 55oC, hence the requirement for a larger surface. This is not always the case and further consultation should be taken with an installer.
Air source heat pumps may also be used in an 'air-to-air' system releasing the heat through a convector-style fan in smaller spaces.
Are there any incentives for this type of installation?In short - Yes! The Renewable Heat Premium Payment is available for home owners in preparation for the phase 2 roll out of the Renewable Heat Incentive. Claimants can get £850 towards their air source heat pump installation up until March 2012 (funding is limited!) with the following conditions:
- The property must be owned by you or if you are a tenant you must be purchasing the system yourself and have permission from the owner of the property
- Property must have loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation (where practical)
- You should have all necessary planning and environmental permissions in place
- Insulation levels of the property are very important with low heat producing technologies such as this and must be considerd first as not to waste heat
- Planning is required with varying degrees of knowledge and support across different local authority areas so please check first
- Some heat pumps can achieve over 70oC but will likely integrate a secondary heating element which consumes additional electricity
- This may be considered a good supplementary technology to solar pv, wind, hydro or CHP as they could avoid using mains grid electricity to power the unit
- They have been excluded from the Renewable Heat Incentive phase 1 (this is for non-domestic sector buildings, delayed until later in November 2011) as there is loose definition around a 'heat pump' in more commericial settings such as heat exchangers etc
