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An Air to Water Heat Pump can provide the ideal energy efficient hot water system for either domestic household use, or for larger Commercial applications.  In reality a Heat Pump provides slightly less energy savings when compared to a domestic solar water heater, but there are a number of other significant advantages associated with the use of an Air to Water Heat Pump.

One advantage of the Heat Pump is the aesthetic appearance that is gained by not having any solar panels or in some cases a storage tank as well on the roof of the building.  In some cases roof structures have to be reinforced when they are required to support the weight of a domestic sized solar storage tank that can weigh in excess of 400 kg.  The installation cost of an Air to Water Heat Pump is very simple compared to the installation cost of a solar water heater, and this significantly lower installation cost for the Heat Pumps should also be taken into consideration when assessing the overall installed cost of either product.

Another advantage of the Air to Water Heat Pump is the low energy draw from the electricity supply to operate the system, while at the same time producing an output of around 3 times more than the actual electrical input, when operated in average ambient temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius.  In reality this is a saving in energy of approximately 75% when compared to traditional electric water heaters.  In Regions where the average ambient temperature is higher than 20 degrees Celsius the actual energy savings can be higher due to the extra efficiency that is gained in these conditions.  There is also no need for sunlight because an Air to Water Heat Pump gains its free energy from the ambient air.    Contrary to popular belief, a solar water heater does requires back-up electrical energy to operate the booster element during periods of inclement weather, low radiation periods, and at night time when there is a need to supply hot water during those times.  The annual back-up energy needed to ensure solar water heaters provide an uninterrupted supply of hot water regardless of weather conditions, or if hot water is needed during the evening period, is similar to what is expended annually for a Heat Pump to drive the evaporator fan and compressor when comparing similar volumes of hot water delivery.   A domestic sized Heat Pump could, if required, operate from Photovoltaic (PV) solar cell system due to the low energy input needed compared to the actual output that is delivered in the form of hot water.

By Mel Peatey.

Look for my next post that explains the advantages of Heat Pumps in the larger Commercial installations.

There are a number of advantages associated with installing an Air to Water Heat Pump for domestic as well as commercial applications, and I will endeavor to explain those advantages in this blog.
Some people are uncomfortable with the fact that Air to Water Heat Pumps use electricity for their operation.   Whilst this is correct, it is important to understand how much electricity is consumed to operate the Air to Water Heat Pump as well as understanding exactly what the electricity is expended on for the operation of the Air to Water Heat Pump.  A small amount of electricity is consumed to run the compressor and fan components in an Air to Water Heat Pump.  The amount is usually somewhere between 70% and 80% less than what would be consumed to heat a similar volume of hot water by a similar temperature rise in a conventional well insulated electric storage water heater.   The heating efficiency of an Air to Water Heat Pump is determined by the available ambient temperature of the air and the relative humidity of the region where the Air to Water Heat Pump is located.   Primarily, heat energy is extracted from the surrounding air by way of the evaporator that contains cool refrigerant gas where air is drawn through by the fan.  The vaporized gas is charged with considerably more heat energy when it then is compressed in the compressor which also uses electricity.  The super heated refrigerant vapor then dissipates the generated heat by way of a condenser or heat exchanger to the stored water that is required to be heated.

To obtain maximum benefit from the heat that is generated from the refrigerant gas in an Air to Water Heat Pump it is important to incorporate an efficient condenser of heat exchanger to transfer the generated heat to the water that is in the storage tank.  Some key elements of efficient transfer of heat are the surface area available for the heat transfer process and opposite directional flow between the water and the super heated refrigerant vapor.  Whilst Air to Water Heat Pumps are an ideal option for domestic applications, they are even more suited to Commercial applications, due to the Air to Water Heat Pumps ability to generate hot water efficiently 24 hours a day from the air.   Other energy efficient hot water appliances such as solar hot water systems are only able to generate free hot water during sunny periods, and definitely no solar contribution during the evening hours.   The other major benefit considerations that favor Air to Water Heat Pumps is the considerable reduction in installation space needed, as well as the significant reduction in installation costs, particularly when comparing installation costs associated with a solar hot water system.  For domestic applications the savings in energy use for an Air to Water Heat Pump when compared to a solar water heater is very similar over the course of a year, however, when selecting an Air to Water Heat Pump for Commercial applications no other hot water system can provide the same savings and installation cost savings as an Air to Water Heat Pump.

Posted By – Mel Peatey