Heat pumps can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil-fuelled industrial space heating, says ICS Heat Pump Technology, the UK partner distributor for DeLonghi-Climaveneta heat pumps and Itomic CO2 heat pump units
Typically, industrial and commercial spaces such as warehouses, production areas and manufacturing facilities have been heated using either direct or indirect-fired gas or oil-fired systems by either floor-mounted or high-level burner units. These gas and oil-fired heating systems provide both high carbon emission levels and relatively high running costs. These running costs will potentially increase over the next ten years as the whole dynamic of fuel sourcing and provision changes radically within the UK and fossil fuels become increasingly more costly.
Specifiers and building operators are now becoming more dissatisfied with these types of heating system as we enter a period where carbon reduction is becoming increasingly important along with the associated carbon costs/penalties and the whole subject of increased energy efficiency is now a priority rather than falling into the category of being 'nice to have'. So is there another option? Yes, and it is a solution which has over 100 years of practical use within the UK and worldwide markets.
This solution utilises the Commercial Air Source Heat Pump combined with purpose-designed air handling units which together provide effective space heating. This package of equipment provides a low carbon heating system and tangible cost management benefits with a very straightforward method of installation. Air Source Heat Pumps are now able to provide a range of output temperatures which are able to match the insulation characteristics of virtually any industrial or commercial building. This means that in periods of low ambient temperature down to -12degC, a high-temperature air source heat pump system will still provide an output temperature of 65degC which will satisfy the heating demands of the most exacting building.
Wider scope for heat pumps
"The new generation of higher temperature heat pumps, which provide output temperatures as high as 90degC, really do widen the scope for commercial applications," comments Garry Broadbent of ICS. "Component and product development is moving forward at a fast pace which now means that a heat pump system can be efficiently applied to these space heating applications".
Broadbent adds: "Even though these space heating systems appear to be relatively straightforward to apply, care must be taken to ensure that the heat pump system is working at optimum efficiency providing a temperature output which is continually matched to the load on the building at any one time. This control system, referred to as weather compensation, allows the system to work at its peak efficiency whilst still providing the heating capacity required by the building, thus maximising heat pump efficiency at all times."
The air source heat pump is connected to a number of internally positioned air handling units which are either mounted horizontally at high level or floor-mounted depending on the demands of the application. Alternatively, this system could incorporate radiant panels which are also compatible with the higher temperature range of ICS heat pump units. Installation of this system is made even more straightforward by the fact that all the pipe work within and around the building is a low pressure hot water system rather than gas/oil or, in some cases, refrigerant which also provides the additional benefit of cost savings in the form of reduced annual maintenance.
Mainstream heating systems
All these factors mean that heat pumps with air handling units or radiant panels can now definitely be considered as a mainstream commercial/industrial space heating system option and the capital costs of these systems can now certainly be viewed as being realistic and practical.
As we move forward into the era of carbon reduction and reducing energy use within buildings, commercial building operators will initially focus on equipment and systems that will reduce carbon and energy use at the lowest cost and shortest timescale. However, once the initial energy efficiency measures have been taken care of within a building — i.e. energy monitoring etc. — the major carbon generation systems within the building will also need to be addressed — and usually the heating system is one of the main contributors to the annual carbon emissions of a building or site. So it is clear that in order to reduce future carbon emissions and to continue reducing energy consumption, the efficiency of the heating and hot water system must be addressed.
Heat pump space heating systems provide a real and viable low carbon option for the provision of both heating and hot water along with the added benefit of achieving significant cost savings. Specifiers and building operators are now recognising that they have two clear reasons to review their installed heating systems and to seriously consider a heat pump-based system as the real alternative.
