Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)
What is it?
Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) extract heat from the surrounding air, and upgrade it to a higher, more useful temperature. They can release as much as 4 times the energy required to power the equipment. The use of heat pumps can lead to savings on fossil fuels and a subsequent reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases.
How does it work?
An ASHP consists of a compressor and a carefully matched evaporator coil and heat exchanger.
Heat is extracted from the surrounding air by a refrigerant liquid. This liquid circulates the system and has a boiling point as low as –40oC. The liquid evaporates when absorbing heat from the outside air. This gas is then compressed, which adds heat energy, and raises the temperature to around 75oC.
This heat is then passed via a heat exchanger into water, and used to provide space heating through radiators or via underfloor heating systems.
It is possible to extract heat from the air at temperatures as low as –15oC.
Who is it suitable for?
ASHP’s can be used to provide space heating to a wide range of building types, and are used in houses and community buildings across the country.
Heat pumps are best suited to energy efficient buildings, and are most effective when supplying low temperature distribution systems such as underfloor heating. These pumps are particularly cost effective in areas where mains gas is not available.
The benefits
- The amount of energy consumed to operate the pump is much less than would be required to heat the building by conventional means.
- Heat pumps are highly efficient
- There are relatively low carbon emissions associated with this technology
For more information see:
The UK Heat Pump Network (www.heatpumpnet.org.uk)