Among the main directions for the development of engineering equipment for private households, one can single out an increase in productivity with ergonomics and expansion of functionality. At the same time, developers are increasingly paying attention to the energy efficiency of the technical equipment of communication systems. The heating infrastructure is considered to be the most costly, so companies are showing particular interest in the means of providing it. Among the most tangible results of the work in this direction is the air heat pump, which replaces traditional heating equipment, increasing the energy efficiency of the home.
Features of air heat pumps
The main difference lies in the way heat is generated. Most modern heating systems provide for the use of traditional energy sources as a source. However, in the case of air pumps for both heating and hot water, most of the energy is consumed directly from natural resources. About 20% of the total potential is allocated for supply from the usual stations. Thus,Air source heat pumps for home heating use energy more economically and cause less damage to the environment. It is noteworthy that the conceptual versions of the pumps were developed in order to provide office space and enterprises. But in the future, technologies also covered the segment of household equipment, allowing ordinary users to use profitable sources of thermal energy.
Working principle
The whole working process is based on the circulation of the refrigerant, taking heat energy from the source. Heating occurs after the condensation of air flows, which are compressed in the compressor. Further, the refrigerant in a liquid state passes directly into the heating system. Now we can take a closer look at the principle of coolant circulation in the pump design. In the gaseous state, the refrigerant is sent to the heat exchanger enclosed in the indoor unit. There it gives off heat to the room and turns into a liquid. At this stage, the receiver comes into play, which is also supplied to the air source heat pump. The principle of operation of the standard version of this device assumes that in this unit the liquid will exchange heat with a refrigerant that has a low pressure. As a result of this process, the temperature of the resulting mixture will decrease again, and the liquid will go to the outlet of the receiver. When the gaseous refrigerant passes through the pipe with reduced pressure in the receiver, its superheat increases, after which it fills the compressor.
Specifications
The main technical indicator is power, which in the case of home models varies from 2.5 to 6 kW. Semi-industrial ones can also be used in the communication support of private houses if a power potential of more than 10 kW is required. As for the dimensions of the pumps, they correspond to traditional air conditioners. Moreover, they can be confused in appearance with a split system. The standard block can have parameters of 90x50x35 cm. The weight also corresponds to typical climatic settings - an average of 40-60 kg. Of course, the main question concerns the range of temperatures covered. Since the air source heat pump is focused on the heating function, the upper limit is considered to be a target and reaches an average of 30-40 °C. True, there are also versions with combined functions that also cool the room.
Varieties of designs
There are several concepts for generating heat with an air pump. As a result, the design is sharpened specifically for the needs of a specific generation scheme. The most popular model involves the interaction in one system of air flows and a water carrier. The main classification divides structures according to the type of organization of functional blocks. So, there is a heat air pump in a monoblock housing, and there are also models that provide for the output of the system to the outside using an auxiliary segment. By and large, both models repeat the principle of operation of conventional air conditioners, only their functions andperformance taken to a new level.
Application of modern technologies
Innovative developments largely led to the development of classic climate control systems. In particular, Mitsubishi uses a two-phase refrigerant injection scroll compressor in its models, which allows the equipment to perform its function regardless of temperature conditions. Even at -15 °C, a Japanese-designed heat air pump demonstrates a performance of up to 80%. In addition, the latest models are equipped with new control systems, which provide more convenient, safer and more efficient operation of installations. With all the manufacturability of the equipment, the possibility of its integration into traditional heating systems with boilers and boilers remains.
Make your own air pumps
First of all, you need to purchase a compressor for future installation. It is fixed in the wall and performs the function of an outdoor unit of a conventional split system. Further, the complex is supplemented with a capacitor, which can be made independently. For this operation, a copper "coil" with a thickness of about 1 mm is required, which then must be placed in a plastic or metal case - for example, a tank or cistern. The prepared tube is wound around the core, which can be a cylinder with dimensions that allow it to be integrated into the tank. Using a perforated aluminum angle, it is possible to form coils with equal intervals, which will makemore efficient air source heat pump. With their own hands, many home craftsmen also perform soldering of a copper pipe, followed by pumping freon, which will act as a refrigerant. Further, the assembled structure is connected to the heating system of the house through an external circuit.
Reviews of homemade installations
It is not difficult to implement a system that will duplicate the function of this type of factory pumps. However, the performance of such a unit in a large house will hardly be noticeable. Users of such installations also complain about the inconvenience of managing the system. The regulation of operational parameters is done manually, which is very inconvenient. And that's not to mention the risks, in terms of safety - this is one of the biggest drawbacks that air source heat pumps have. Reviews, in particular, note problems with the movement of the refrigerant, which can only be solved with the help of specialists. There are other negative nuances of using homemade air pumps, but they are offset by the advantage in the form of a penny assembly cost for such a unit. For comparison, a branded installation is estimated at 20-30 thousand rubles.
An alternative to air pumps
In parallel with the idea of using the natural energy of water and air, the concept of obtaining heat from the earth has also been developing in recent years. In many respects, similar installations work according to this principle, which use soil as a source. A feature of such systems is the use of geothermal probes as heat exchangers. If therm althe air pump provides for the use of refrigerant with tubular condensers, in this case it is assumed that the functional elements are immersed in the ground to accumulate its own energy. Actually, this is the main difficulty in using such systems - ideally, they should dive to a depth of about 10 m, which is not always possible.
Conclusion
Departure from traditional energy sources does not always give the expected results. As a rule, developers strive to create systems that in the future will save the user from financial dependence on communication software. In this sense, an air source heat pump for the home is one of the most successful solutions. It assumes minimal electricity costs to maintain heating, but at the same time it does not lose to classical heating systems in terms of performance. The installation of heat pumps is beneficial not only due to their cost-effectiveness, but also ease of use. The design practically does not impose restrictions on the use of modern electronic filling, so manufacturers strive to supply models with the latest generation of control systems.
