Uses free heat

Press, 27 April 1983, Page 29

Uses free heat

Heat pumps represent an advance in heating technology comparable to microprocessors in the electronics field.

When used for heating, the principle involved is that used in a refrigerator, only in reverse. Using electrical energy to drive pump and fan, heat is drawn from the outside atmosphere and transferred indoors. In summer, the system can be switched over to have the opposite effect, when it is extremely effective as a cooling unit. Working as a heater the pump gives out as heat up to three times the electrical energy it uses, and it gets this heat energy free from the wide outdoor air. Even in very cold conditions, air contains some heat that can be recovered. “Carrier” systems are claimed to be capable of 120 per cent efficiency even when the outdoor temperature is down to minus 28 degrees. Design improvements over recent years have created a new generation of

heat pumps of remarkable efficiency, and these modem versions come as small, neat packages, competitive on the domestic market. Versatility is the keynote. Heat pumps can fit window spaces or spaces cut in walls, or the unit can stand as a self-contained floor console. Alternatively, it may have an interior console connected to an exterior pump. A split system can be installed with ducting leading to outlets through the floor, walls or ceiling, as preferred. A heat pump system also filters and freshens the indoor air, trapping dust, soot and pollens. This means a healthier environment and less time spent on cleaning. The exact savings made with a heat pump depend on such variables as climate, heating requirements and electricity price, but the average heat pump is 280 per cent efficient. The electricity used is only that needed to operate the pump, as the heat transferred indoors is free.