New Daikin heat pump to transform the commercial heating market
June 21st 2009 Space Air, the UK’s longest established Daikin Distributor, explains why inverter technology can ‘boost’ Heat Pumps in commercial heat and hot water applications
The Ingenious Heat Pump
The reverse cycle air source heat pump is extraordinarily efficient and versatile. So much so that today heat pump based systems are the favoured choice for satisfying the cooling and heating requirements of most commercial buildings; thanks in no small measure to the ingenious “VRV 3 pipe system” originally developed by Daikin Industries which makes it possible to supply both heating and cooling simultaneously where required!
However, a new generation of heat pump is now available that is set to play a vital role in supplying energy efficient heating and hot water for our commercial building stock.
No more fossil fuel (or Biomass) boilers?
The new EWYD Heat Pump Inverter, manufactured by Daikin Europe and part of an extensive range of energy efficient solutions available from Space Airconditioning plc, heralds a new air-to-water heat pump which could completely eradicate any need for energy guzzling, high carbon emitting commercial gas or oil fired boilers.
Heat Pump technology is also being identified as a potential ‘renewable’ successor to Biomass boilers, recently cited as “a mistake in terms of their contribution to more efficient schools”.
During the heating season, as the outside temperature decreases, the thermal load requirement of the building increases. A conventional heat pump’s heating capacity will actually decrease as the outside temperature falls in which case a conventional boiler (fossil-fuel fired or electrical) might need to be integrated with the heat pump if the temperature is going to fall below -1°C. (see graph) This is no longer the case with the new Daikin’s EWYD HPI.
‘Boost’ to efficiency at lower ambient temperature
Thanks to the incorporation of inverter driven single screw compressors, Daikin’s innovative EWYD HPI can fully match the building’s thermal load,even if the ambient temperature falls as low as -12°C. In such extreme conditions the inverter boosts the compressor with a frequency increase that exactly follows the required thermal load, resulting in considerable energy and cost savings across a wider operating range.Hot water temperatures up to 55°C can be achieved thanks to an optional stainless steel brazed heat exchanger mounted in series between the compressor and air cooled condenser.
Cooling as well?
If the building also requires cooling the innovative EWYD HPI also offers great benefits thanks again to the inverter technology. As the outside ambient temperature increases in summer, so too does a building’s cooling load,creating circumstances in which a traditional chiller actually loses capacity.In warmer conditions the compressors in the EWYD heat pump again receive a frequency increase boost to match the required cooling load.This innovative product line is available in 7 model sizes, for large,commercial and/or industrial buildings,all having twin independent circuits to ensure operational back up and reliability.Capacities vary from 255 to 385 kW in cooling mode and 274 to 412kW in heating mode.
Controls that optimise efficiency
A pre-programmed microprocessor controller, developed for the EWYD Heat Pump Inverter, varies the compressor speed in response to load demand. This optimises energy efficiency at all operating conditions (-10°C to +43°C) both in cooling and heating. In addition, it is designed for simple network connection with existing or new Building Automation Systems and Management Systems.”
Space Air firmly believes that Daikin’s EWAD HPI offers a real opportunity to move from combustion based heating and hot water boiler systems to a much more energy and carbon efficient alternative.For more information about this product and other energy efficient heating, hot water and cooling solutions please visit www.Spaceair.co.uk. More articles from Space Airconditioning plc: | 
