If we consider the issue of heating from a purely theoretical point of view, then a person has a lot of solutions to this problem. In fact, everything is somewhat worse, since the choice is limited by the cost, the ability to service the installation, etc.
Heating with heat pump
Do-it-yourself installation of a heating system with a fuel pump is quite advantageous in terms of ease of use. When this unit is turned on, it does not produce noise, does not create an unpleasant odor, and also, which is pleasant enough, there is no need to install a chimney or any other additional structures.
However, such a system is completely dependent on electrical power. To work, a minimum amount of energy is required, but if for some reason the electricity disappears, then the system will stop working. Do-it-yourself heat pump assembly, like the entire installation as a whole, is quite economical. It is inexpensive, as is the maintenance process. It is worth noting that it is still quite expensive to buy such an installation.
Pump details
When the masters talk about installing a heat pump, then by that they mean installing a specific set of equipment, and not just one pump. It is important to note here that practically any substance whose temperature is 1 degree Celsius or higher can become a heat source for such a system.
All systems are divided into several types, for example, "water - air", "water - water", etc. The use of a heat pump is based on the fact that bodies are able to transfer their thermal energy to other bodies or to the environment. The first word in a pair usually indicates the environment from which this heat is taken. The second word determines the type of carrier in the system, which will receive this thermal energy. In modern embodiments, the heat source is usually water, air or soil. The simplest design is one in which air is used as a source.
Device performance
Naturally, the efficiency of each of the devices is not the same, but it depends on the system in which the pump operates. The least efficient are considered air installations. In addition, the performance of such a system is greatly affected by the weather. Soil installations are characterized by good stability. The efficiency of such plants is in the range from 2.8 to 3.3, which is quite good. The most effective were water-to-water installations. This is largely due to the fact that the temperature of the source is quite stable.
What are the benefits of installing
Like any other system, this one has certain benefits that its owner can get.
Do-it-yourself assembly and installation of a heat pump has the following advantages:
- High economic efficiency. With an electrical cost of 1 kW, for example, you can get about 3-4 kW of thermal energy, which is quite profitable. It is also worth noting that these indicators are averaged, since the exact numbers strongly depend on the design and type of unit.
- Environmental friendliness. A self-assembled heat pump, like the entire installation as a whole, does not produce any harmful emissions into the environment during its operation. The use of such devices does not harm the environment.
- Universality. When installing traditional heating systems, you have to constantly pay for gas or other substances. Solar installations or wind generators do not always work stably. Heat pumps are almost universal, and you can install them anywhere. The main thing is that the type of system is chosen correctly.
- It is worth noting that the thermal system is quite multifunctional. If in winter it is used, as expected, for heating, then in summer it can be used as an air conditioner.
- The safety of the heating system is at a fairly high level, since the temperature of the working units does not exceed 90 degrees, during operation there are no toxic emissions, and fuel is not required for their operation. She is no more dangerous than a refrigerator.
Varieties of Home Systems
The heat pump for heating a house can be an absorption or compressor type. The most common are precisely compressor. Such systems can also be assembled from an old refrigerator or air conditioner using a working compressor from these devices. In addition to the compressor, it is also necessary to have an expander, an evaporator and a condenser. In order to construct a heat pump for heating an absorption-type house, you will also need such a part as absorbent refrigerant.
Thermal installations also differ in the type of heat source used. They can be air, geothermal or using secondary heat. The input and output circuits can use either the same medium or two different ones. For this reason, systems can be with the following types of coolant:
- "air is air";
- "water - water";
- "water is air";
- "air is water";
- "soil - water";
- "ice is water."
It is important to note that the efficiency of the installation is determined by the conversion coefficient. This is the difference between energy expended and energy gained. Of course, the greater this difference, the more efficient the system is.
Beginning of work
Before proceeding with the analysis of certain assembly methods, it is necessary to determine the heat source, as well as to draw up a diagram of the device by which the assembly will be carried out. It is only possible to assemble the working versions of the heat pump with your own hands only after some tools are leased and some additional components are bought.
First step. Drawing
The energy source for the thermal installation must be underground, and therefore it will be necessary to drill a well or at least dig a small depression. This means that the place of work and depth must be applied to the scheme. Please note that the temperature at the place of installation of the part should not be less than 5 degrees Celsius. If there are ponds of artificial or natural origin nearby, then you can use them as a place for installation.
It is also worth noting that you can pick up almost any heating system scheme and work on it. The heat source has almost no effect on the progress of work. A working version of a heat pump, assembled from a refrigerator with your own hands, is the most common model. To do this, you need to disassemble the old device and remove the compressor from there, which will be the main element of the system, pumping freon and water through the pipeline.
Second step. The choice of parts for work
It is very important to note that if the compressor from the old refrigerator is old, idle or junk, it is better to buy a new one. Repairing it is unprofitable, besides such a part will not last long.
To assemble a heat pump from the refrigerator with your own hands, you will also need a thermostatic valve. The best option would be if both elements are from the same system so that they exactly fit together. To install the pump, you will need to purchase 30-cm L-brackets. In addition, you will need to purchase several more details:
- capacity of 120 liters with high tightness;
- regular plastic tank with a capacity of up to 90 l;
- 3 copper pipes with different diameters will also be required;
- for the pipeline it is necessary to purchase polymer, and preferably metal-plastic pipes.
To perform the installation of the heat pump, standard tools will be required, and a grinder and a welding machine will be useful for cutting pipes.
Third step. Work with system nodes
The first thing to do is install the compressor on the wall using the brackets. Once this is done, you can begin to assemble the capacitor. For its manufacture, it is necessary to cut a metal tank in half, in one part it is necessary to insert a copper coil. Then the container is welded back, after which several threaded holes are made in it.
Next, go to work with the heat exchanger. For the installation of the heat pump to be successful, you need to wind a copper pipe on a steel tank with a volume of 120 liters. The ends of the turns are attached using rails. Plumbing junctions are connected to the pipe leads. The same procedure must be carried out with a plastic tank, it will be used as an evaporator. Since this tank will not overheat, the presence of a metal element is optional. The finished structure is also attached to the wall using the same brackets.
When all these nodes are ready, you can proceed with the selection of thermostatic valve. When the structure is assembled, then it is necessary to pump in it a freon of a certain brand - R-22 or R-422. If there are no skills with this substance, then it is best to call a specialist, since the procedure is quite unsafe.
Fourth step. Connection to a fence device
It is important to note here that the heat pump circuit, the system connection to the intake device depend on its type:
- "Water is the earth." If this scheme is selected, the collector must be installed below the level of freezing of the soil. The piping of this system should be at the same depth.
- "Water is air." Installation of this system is considered the most simple, since this will not require the implementation of any excavation work. As a place for mounting the collector, you can use any place near the house or even on the roof.
- The water-water system is installed only if there is a pond nearby. The design is assembled from polymer pipes, which then drop into the center of the reservoir.
When calculating the heat pump, it may happen that its capacity is not enough. In this case, there are systems that are called bivalent. In other words, the thermal installation is installed in parallel with the electric boiler, for example, in this case it performs the function of additional heating.
Air conditioning unit
You can assemble the heat pump from the air conditioner with your own hands. However, it is worth noting here that this will require the help of a good master in repairing household appliances, if the owner does not have such skills. In general, it is worth saying that it is quite simple to assemble such a structure on your own.
Assembly Parts
How to make a heat pump from an air conditioner? It is worth noting that the principle here is about the same. You just need to take the compressor not from the old refrigerator, but from the air conditioner. It is also worth checking which refrigerant it works with, and then refuel the system. Further, as in the previous case, two copper pipes with different diameters and wall thicknesses from 1 mm will be required. One of them should be 12 m and will be used for the coil, and the second 10 m - for the evaporator. A thermostatic valve is required. For the manufacture of the coil, a sufficiently thick pipe is required.
The assembly process is no different from what was previously described, with a compressor from the refrigerator. Installation is also carried out depending on what type of source has been selected. As practice shows, such home-made systems differ in power of 2.6-2.8 kW. Of course, such a system is not too powerful. For example, at a street temperature of -5 degrees Celsius, such a pump will be able to maintain a room temperature of 60 m 2 to +17 degrees Celsius.
Calculation of system parameters
Calculation of the heat pump is carried out either with the help of an online cultivator, or with the help of specialists. You can use the formula:
R = (k × V × T) / 860.
In this formula, R is the power needed to heat the room; k is the coefficient for accounting for heat losses by the building (1 - a qualitatively insulated room, 4 - a boardwalk); V is the total volume of the room to be heated; T is the largest temperature difference in the outside world and inside the house; 860 - conversion factor of the calculation result in kW from kcal.
Thermal energy consumers
After any model of the heat pump was assembled, it is necessary to connect it to some consumer. Since the power of this system is not too high, it should be connected to specialized heating systems, for example, a heater. An excellent option would be to connect such a device to a warm floor. It is possible to connect with low-inertia radiators made of aluminum or steel with a large radiation area.
It will be appropriate to say that home-made options are also best suited only as an additional source of heating. It will not work to completely provide heating for the house with homemade products, or the temperature will be low. Only an industrial installation can cope with this task on its own. In addition, the widespread use of such plants was due to the fact that they are 100% environmentally friendly. The transition to such heating systems will significantly affect the improvement of the environment.