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Air source heat pumps - what are they ?
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| Air source heat pumps use basic thermodynamic principles to convert latent heat, contained within the surrounding air, into heat energy that can be used to provide heating and hot water. in this respect the device can be classified as a renewable energy source because the heat in the ambient air is constantly replenished by the sun.
There are two types of ASHPs - "air to air" and "air to water". Air to air heat pumps release the captured energy through an air heat exchanger, which is then forced around the building, by a motor driven fan, through trunking or directly into a room. Air to water heat pumps release the heat energy into a water circuit which is then used in a wet heating system such as radiator or under floor heating.
Spiralling energy costs and advances in heating technology, have positioned air source heat pumps as a very realistic alternative to more traditional fossil fueled heating systems.
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| Air to Water Technology.
Air to water heat pumps employ the dynamics of the vapour / compression cycle used for many years in the basic home fridge.
A low pressure, low boiling point fluid, the refrigerant, is exposed to a higher temperature in the coil of the evaporator. The liquid boils off to a gas and in doing so absorbs energy. The refrigerant gas is then compressed to a higher pressure and temperature before passing through a heat exchanger where it gives its heat energy to water. The heated water is then delivered to a storage cylinder or heating system. After passing through teh heat exchanger the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid before starting the whole process again.
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| Home Heating Comparisons.
Compared to other domestic heating methods, Air Source Heat Pumps can benefit homeowners by creating annual savings on fuel bills, as it can deliver between 3.8kW and 5.8kW of energy for every 1kW used to run the unit. It aso means that homes have a lower dependency on fossil fuels, making them less susceptible to rising fuel costs.
Home heating in the UK additionally accounts for some 30% of CO2 emissions. Air Source Heat PUmps can help reduce the amount of these harmful gases being released into the atmosphere, therefoe lowering the homes carbon footprint.
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