Among the main directions of the development of engineering equipment for private households, one can single out increased productivity with ergonomics and expanded functionality. Moreover, developers are increasingly paying attention to the energy efficiency of technical equipment of communication systems. Heating infrastructure is considered the most expensive, therefore, companies are particularly interested in the means of providing it. Among the most tangible results of work in this direction, a heat air pump stands out, which replaces traditional heating equipment, increasing the energy efficiency of the house.
Features of heat air pumps
The main difference lies in the method of heat generation. Most modern heating systems provide for the use of traditional energy sources as a source. However, in the case of air pumps, both for heating and for providing hot water, most of the energy is consumed directly from natural resources. About 20% of the total potential is allocated to supply from conventional stations. Thus, air heat pumps for heating a house more economically consume energy and cause less damage to the environment. It is noteworthy that the conceptual versions of the pumps were developed with the aim of providing office premises and enterprises. But in the future, technologies also covered the segment of household equipment, allowing ordinary users to use profitable sources of thermal energy.
Principle of operation
The whole workflow is based on the circulation of a refrigerant that draws thermal energy from the source. Heating occurs after the condensation of air flows, which are compressed in the compressor. Further, the refrigerant in the liquid state passes directly to the heating system. Now you can take a closer look at the principle of coolant circulation in the pump design. In a gaseous state, the refrigerant is sent to a heat exchanger enclosed in an indoor unit. There, it gives off heat to the room and is converted into liquid. At this point, the receiver comes into play, which also supplies the air 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 low pressure. As a result of this process, the temperature of the formed mixture will again decrease, and the liquid will be sent to the receiver output. At the moment of passage of the gaseous refrigerant through the pipe with reduced pressure in the receiver, its overheating intensifies, after which it fills the compressor.
Specifications
The main technical indicator is the power, which in the case of home models varies from 2.5 to 6 kW. Semi-industrial can also be used in the communication support of private houses, if the power potential of more than 10 kW is required. As for the size of the pumps, they correspond to traditional air conditioners. Moreover, they can be confused in appearance with a split system. A standard unit can have parameters of 90x50x35 cm. The weight also corresponds to typical climate systems - an average of 40-60 kg. Of course, the main question concerns the range of temperatures covered. Since the air heat pump is oriented towards the heating function, the upper limit is considered the target and on average reaches 30-40 ° C. True, versions with combined functions are also available, which also produce cooling of the room.
Varieties of designs
There are several concepts for generating heat using an air pump. As a result, the design is sharpened specifically for the needs of a specific generation scheme. The most popular model, which involves the interaction in one system of air flow and water carrier. The main classification divides the designs according to the type of organization of functional blocks. So, there is a heat air pump in a monoblock case, and there are models that provide for the withdrawal of the system out with the help of an auxiliary segment. By and large, both models repeat the principle of operation of conventional air conditioners, only their functions and performance are raised to a new level.
The use of modern technology
Innovative developments in many ways led to the development of classic climate systems. In particular, Mitsubishi uses a scroll compressor with two-phase refrigerant injection in its models, which allows the equipment to perform its function regardless of temperature conditions. Even at -15 ° C, the heat air pump from Japanese developers demonstrates performance up to 80%. In addition, the latest models are equipped with new control systems, which ensure more convenient, safe and efficient operation of the plants. Despite the technological effectiveness of the equipment, the possibility of its integration into traditional heating systems with boilers and boilers remains.
DIY air pump manufacturing
First of all, you need to purchase a compressor for future installation. It is fixed in the wall and serves as the outdoor unit of a conventional split system. Further, the complex is supplemented by a capacitor, which can be done independently. For this operation, you will need a copper “coil” with a thickness of about 1 mm, which then must be placed in a plastic or metal case - for example, a tank or a tank. The prepared tube is wound on the core, which can be a cylinder with dimensions that allow it to be integrated into the tank. Using a perforated aluminum corner, it is possible to form turns at equal intervals, which will make the air heat pump more efficient . With their own hands, many home craftsmen also solder a copper pipe with the subsequent injection of freon, which will act as a refrigerant. Next, 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 factory pumps of this type. However, the performance of such an assembly in a large house will hardly be noticeable. Users of such installations also complain about the inconvenience of managing the system. Regulation of operational parameters is done manually, which is very inconvenient. And this is not to mention the risks, from the point of view of safety - this is one of the biggest drawbacks that air 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 blocked by the advantage in the form of a penny cost of assembling such an unit. For comparison, a proprietary installation is estimated at 20-30 thousand rubles.
Alternative to air pumps
In parallel with the idea of using the natural energy of water and air, in recent years, concepts for generating heat from the earth have also been developed. In many respects, similar installations operate on this principle, which use soil as a source. A feature of such systems is the use of geothermal probes as heat exchangers. If the heat air pump provides for the use of refrigerant with tubular condensers, then 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 be immersed to a depth of about 10 m, which is not always possible.
Conclusion
Moving away from traditional energy sources does not always produce the expected results. As a rule, developers strive to create systems that in the future will save the user from financial dependence on communication support. In this sense, an air heat pump for a home is one of the most successful solutions. It assumes minimal electricity costs for maintaining heating, but at the same time it does not lose to classical heating systems in terms of performance. The installation of heat pumps is advantageous not only for their economy, but also for their ease of use. The design practically does not impose restrictions on the use of modern electronic filling, so manufacturers are striving to equip models with the latest generation control systems.