Air Source Heat Pumps
Eco Link Resources offers a range of residential, commercial and industrial Air Source Heat Pumps.
This eco friendly technology is an extremely efficient means of cost effectively providing heating, cooling and hot water to a range of applications allowing any option to be examined from capacities of 4kW to over 1,000kW using a variety of units.
Eco Link Resources provides a complete Air Source Heat Pump service, from specification and design through to installation and on-going maintenance. Site surveys will be arranged to gain a full understanding of each application whilst also allowing the client to gain a complete understanding of the options and types of equipment available. Correct heat pump selection is critical to ensure future performance.
How Air Source Heat Pumps Work
An Air Source Heat Pump extracts heat from the outside air (even cold air is full of energy) in the same way an air conditioning system extracts heat from a room, however where an air conditioning system rejects heat an Air Source Heat Pump uses that heat to produce hot water or warm air. A reversing valve is used so that the system can also be used for cooling.
Benefits of Air Source Heat Pumps
· Lower fuel bills – for every 1kW of electric used Heat Pumps produce an additional 3kW
· Reduce your carbon footprint – Heat Pumps reduce carbon emissions by up to 55%
· No fuel deliveries required – Air Source Heat Pumps use the surrounding air
· Extremely Versatile – ability to provide heating, cooling as well as hot water
· Low maintenance – regular servicing and leak detection tests are all that’s required
· Easier installation that other technology – for example ground source heat pumps
· All year round – Air Source Heat Pumps can operate all year round in the coldest winters
· New build or retro fit – our systems are ideal for both new build or retro fit projects
Fuel Costs & Coefficient of Performance (COP)
SAP or Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), is used by an architect or specifier to determine a new or refurbished buildings efficiency and works to a default COP value.
This is used as a standard default efficiency level for new build and refurbished residential properties, however when using this SAP method to determine the efficiency of a heat pump the SAP default COP value can be considered as being a relatively low efficiency level.
This is why the indicative chart is also shown which provides a practical illustration of potential running costs utilising an efficient heat pump with manufacturer specified COP levels when installed on an efficient property with an appropriate heating distribution system.
- Gas at 3.2p per kWh = 39p @ 83% efficiency.
- Oil at 48p/L,1 litre gives 10kW hours = 55p @ 83% efficiency.
- LPG at 33p/L,1.4 litres gives 10kW hours = 53p @ 83% efficiency.
- Air Source Heat Pump, electricity at 10p/unit x COP 2.5 = 40p (@ 250% SAP default efficiency).
- Ground Source Heat Pump, electricity at 10p/unit x COP 3.2 = 31p (@ 320% SAP default efficiency).
- Electric, electricity at 10p per kWh = 105p (at 95% efficiency).
However heat pumps will practically work to a higher efficiency level as shown in the indicative representative performance chart.
Coefficient of Performance is a way of describing a heat pumps efficiency. It is the ratio of heat produced to the amount of energy required to run the system. A typical Air Source unit operating on a typical well insulated new build / refurbishment application with a 45°C flow temperature would provide the following efficiency levels in ambient conditions from -5°C to 5°C.
- -5°C ambient 45°C output provides a COP of 2.9
- 0°C ambient 45°C output provides a COP of 3.1
- 5°C ambient 45°C output provides a COP of 3.4
Typical average UK winter conditions *(Central England) would be around 3°C to 6°C, this would mean that a average COP level in excess of 2.9 (-5°C condition) should be achieved when considering a COP of 3.1 is achievable at 0°C.
