Let's take a look at what heat pumps are.

According to the World Energy Committee, by 2020, 75% of homes in developed countries will be heated and supplied with hot water from renewable energy sources. One of these resources is thermal pumps.

This is a device that extracts heat from air, water and earth's interior. In order for the device to work with maximum efficiency, it is necessary to choose the right source of energy and, in fact, the pump itself.

And also know the heat loss of your home, the need for hot water supply and cooling. To do this, you need to conduct energy audit of your house or the project of the house (if the house is only planned or under construction).

How to choose a heat source for a heat pump?

Before buying a pump, you need to determine the source of energy. His role can be:

• Atmospheric or ventilatory air. Such a device can be installed both in the street and inside the room. This is the so-called air pump.
• Soil;
• Water;
• Ground water ..

Devices that draw energy from the earth, as well as groundwater and surface waters, are called geothermal.

When choosing a source of energy, you need to consider the following factors:

• Heating area and type of heating devices.

Choosing a heat source depends largely on the tasks that are facing it.

For example, for heating a small house or giving up an area of up to 100 square meters. m it is best to install an air pump.

But keep in mind that the air pump starts to consume more electricity at ambient temperatures, and accordingly, if you want to live in this house for a year, you should take care of the necessary electrical power.

Ideally, if the building is equipped with a hot water supply system, the pump is considered as an additional source of energy. By the way, if the house is equipped with a ventilation system, it is possible to integrate the device directly into it.

Also, the house should be equipped with a low-temperature heating system (these are warm floors, walls, or air fan coils)

But for a home with an area of 100 to 250 square meters. m of such a model will not be enough. The best option is a combination of warm floors with an air-water pump or a geothermal device. If we are talking about a large house, the area of which is more than 250 square meters. m, it is best to use a geothermal device with a sufficiently large heat exchanger.

• Possibility to use the device for conditioning. If the appliance is to be used not only for heating but also for air cooling, it is best to choose geothermal devices such as "soil-water" or "water-water". They are capable of operating in the mode of passive conditioning, respectively, more economical. And also they work in more stable conditions (temperature underground + 8-10 degrees Celsius) and accordingly more reliable.

The remaining types of pumps are suitable only for active cooling of air, which increases operating costs.

• Area and geology of the site, the possibility of drilling operations. A geothermal pump provides stable heat and efficiency. Therefore, if you can drill on the site, it is better to stop just at this option. It is necessary to choose between two types of heat exchangers: horizontal and vertical. The first does not require difficult and costly land works. But for installation it requires a large area that is not used for business purposes. Vertical heat exchanger can be installed on a small plot suitable for drilling. The depth of the wells may vary, but usually it is no more than 150 m. The cost of work is directly proportional to the depth of drilling.
• Presence near a reservoir. If near the house there is a river or a lake, the water-type device will be the best choice. This is the most affordable geothermal pump. For his work, it is enough to lay a plastic collector along the bottom of the reservoir, which will be used to receive heat energy. It should be borne in mind that the installation of a water pump requires free access to the source, as well as a special construction permit.
• Financial opportunities. The most affordable is an air pump. But it should be borne in mind that at low temperatures, it loses its efficiency and requires increased operating costs. A geothermal pump and its installation will cost much more, especially if you consider the cost of drilling wells. On the other hand, it is an effective option that does not require high operating costs.

What characteristics to look for when choosing a heat pump model?

Detected with a source of energy, you can go to the selection of a particular model. The main characteristics of any device are:

• Power. This indicator is calculated individually, based on the area of the building, the thermal conductivity and the temperature of the coolant in the system. Such a calculation is aimed at creating comfortable conditions in the house, even at the lowest frost.
• Productivity (COP). This value indicates the amount of energy received in relation to the spent. For example, COP, equal to 4, suggests that for 1 kW of used electricity, the pump will produce 4 kW of heat energy. But keep in mind that different manufacturers give the passport COP for different conditions, usually to show maximum efficiency.

We draw attention to the figures: For example, COP 0/35 - 4.5 this means that the coefficient of the formation of electric energy in the heat is equal to 4.5 at an external temperature of 0 degrees Celsius and when the coolant is supplied with a temperature of 35 degrees in the heating system. That is, this indicator is the best "average temperature at the hospital", and in real terms, the numbers will be different. After all, heating for DHW requires a temperature of 65 degrees. Celsius and supplies may be -15 for an air heat pump. Particularly sinister with gaming figures in Chinese manufacturers such as COP 5.2 for an air heat pump at 9/35, and try to figure out these numbers still ...

• Work mode. There is a monovalent and bivalent type of pump operation. In the first case, it acts as the only generator of heat. It is most expedient to use ground-based devices for this. In bivalent mode, the pump works simultaneously with a gas or electric boiler. A variant of this type is a monoenergy type of operation, when the heat transfer fluid of the pump is heated with the help of a built-in electric heater. (selection of additional heater power is also an important issue that affects the seamless operation of the heating system and your comfort)

In addition, additional features of the pump should be taken into account. So, some models have the function of air drying or computerized management via the Internet.

So, summing up, we can draw the following conclusions about the selection of a heat pump.

• The air pump is the easiest and most affordable option. But because of unstable performance, the device can only serve as an additional source of heat (for example, in pairs with a gas boiler), to service a small area or to require significant additional electrical power (which may not be)

• Geothermal pumps are effective and reliable devices. With a high cost of the device and installation, they pay off rather quickly, so today are considered the most economical.
• When choosing a particular model you need to pay attention to its power and performance, as well as the availability of additional features.

When choosing a pump, taking into account all requirements, you can be sure that you get a reliable, economical and efficient device that will pay off rather quickly and will serve faithfully for many years to come.

Our specialists have been trained at a plant for the production of heat pumps in Sweden and have full knowledge of the design and installation of heating systems with heat pumps of different types.

Read more about heat pumps Here

See examples of heating systems with heat pumps can be HERE