A heat pump is a cost effective method of heating water, it utilizes the sun’s free energy by extracting heat from the sun-warmed air and transferring it efficiently to the water. Because the heat pump moves the free heat from the outside air to the water, rather that create heat (as a fossil fuel or electric resistance heater does), it can heat your geyser water for up to 70% less cost.
Energy rich ambient air is drawn through the evaporator coil by a fan. The refrigerant in the machine absorbs this free energy. It is then compressed and pumped to the condenser by the compressor. It is here that the energy is released into water as it passes through the machine. There is no direct contact between the air/ water/ refrigerant, all the heat transfer is conducted by a set of heat exchangers much like a car radiator.
As the ambient temperature changes, the heating output of a heat pump will vary. However, even when temperatures are cooler, the heat pump continues to transfer heat between air and water.
On a typical day, the heat pump will provide 4kW of heating with only 1kW of electrical input. By contrast electrical elements require 4kW of electrical energy to generate 4kW of heat energy.
Heat pumps can be fitted to a conventional electric geyser and the element switched off, which will save up to 70% of your heating costs, the element is left in the geyser and is only used for backup purposes in the rare case of a heat pump not performing.
Heat pumps can also be used as back-up in solar geysers in place of the back-up element, have you ever thought what heats the water in a solar geyser at night – a 3kW element, using a HP on a solar geyser is one of the mose efficient ways of heating water, call Ulilog to find out more.
