Air-to-water heat pumps have already established their position in the European climate and market.
LOW TEMPERATURE
There is no doubt anymore that it is relatively the cheapest universally available heat source obtained using electric energy. But do not be misled by the last sentence and let it not lull our vigilance. Please do not think that purchasing a heat pump is the only thing needed to minimize home heating costs to amounts visible only under an electron microscope. The cheapest heat source (as I wrote) does not mean free, as aggressive marketing sometimes tries to convince us. However, if during the implementation of such a heating system for our home we are guided by a few basic principles concerning the selection and installation of air heat pumps, I can assure you with all responsibility of a positive investment effect in the form of thermal comfort and optimal electricity consumption. Let’s start by focusing on the key information that a heat pump is a low-temperature heat source. This is a fundamental truth we cannot forget for a moment. Low-temperature means preparing heating water to 55-60°C. However, the efficiency of an air heat pump preparing daily water at such a temperature parameter, nearing its capability limits, will not be particularly high and may lead to elevated blood pressure while reading the energy bill.
What then? We must strive to lower the temperature of the heating water while maintaining room thermal comfort.
How to achieve this? Here, both modern technology and proven hydraulic solutions come to our aid.
A technologically advanced PC is not just an inverter compressor for the refrigerant but also includes all its other mechanical components such as the air fan or the water circulation pump, which are controlled by inverter motors that smoothly modulate their output depending on the heat demand. Increasingly, the importance of well-designed PC automation is evident – its operating logic and above all its logic of cooperation with the future owner. The ability to use a heating curve and an extensive weekly schedule undoubtedly impacts the final energy consumption result. All these possibilities, packed into a minimal-sized processor, oversee the optimal reduction of the C.O. circuit temperature parameter. Such a modern PC requires an appropriate heat emission system for cooperation. The most popular is water-based underfloor heating – a system of densely arranged pipes in the flooring. This type of heating, thanks to the appropriate temperature distribution in the room, provides exceptional thermal comfort. However, it is not the only method to transfer heat into the room; low-temperature radiators, fan coil units, or other panel heating systems perform this role very well.
Therefore, remember that the lower the temperature of the water supplying the heating system, the greater the energy efficiency, COP, SRCOP. This significantly reduces annual operating costs.
