Sustainable Technologies
Climate Change is a reality and we offer a range of new and retrofitted sustainable technologies that can help to reduce your carbon emissions.
We will provide sustainable building solutions by developing our people. Through training and knowledge sharing we will create the best possible awareness of customer expectations, legislation, environmental impact and technical issues.
Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air - This heat can then be used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air in your home.
Air source heat pumps are more efficient than oil, gas, and electric resistance heating in mild climates but they are less efficient than ground source heat pumps because a ground source heat pump draws energy from the ground which is warmer than the external air in winter. However, air source heat pumps are cheaper to install than ground source heat pumps as they avoid the cost of installing a ground loop. An air source heat pump is a type of heat pump which uses the outside air as a heat source or heat sink to heat or cool an interior space. Domestic hot water storage can also be provided.
A heat pump uses the refrigeration process and transfers low temperature energy to a refrigeration loop, compresses the refrigerant to a high temperature, and transfers this heat to the hot water and heating distribution system, or, in the summer, removes it from the home. A heat pump transfers energy in the form of heat from a cooler location to a warmer location. Systems normally range from a single 4kW unit to multiple units with a single controller producing around 300kW.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Heat pumps in general and ground source heat pumps (GSHP) are effectively reverse air conditioning systems. They use low temperature heat and convert if into a much higher and hence more useful temperature that can be used for water heating and general domestic heating. Using initial heat from the ground, together with the high efficiency of the heat pump will save a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions that would other wise be expelled into the atmosphere under traditional heating systems.
Ground source heat pumps are getting increasingly popular world wide with extra focus in the American and European markets. According to estimates, there are approximately 550,000 units installed world wide (of which 80% are domestic), and there are about 66,000 annual installations on going.
Although the technology is well used around the world, the UK market is lagging behind, with low level of awareness. This is likely to change, as a quality system offers excellent performance and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide space heating.
Heat Pumps - The Types of Systems
A typical ground source heat pump system has a ground heat exchanged, a water-to-water or water-to-air heat pump, and a heat distribution system, see chart below for a typical system’s layout.
Previously systems used an open-loop application, where ground water was used. Where there is a suitable source of groundwater this type of system can be very cost effective, because the water is easy to move into the pump and back, while using relatively inexpensive wells that require limited land space.
However, there are also common disadvantages to these systems, as water is not always easily available, corrosion can become a problem (subject to the quality of the water) and strict regulation on environment is limiting the use of ground water.
Because of the limitations of open-loop systems, the latest models are based on closed-loop (or ground coupled) systems, where the heat exchanger in the ground is made of a sealed loop of pipe that is buried horizontally of vertically underground.
Most systems are indirect, where the antifreeze liquid solution circulates in the ground loop and the energy is transferred to the heat pump refrigerant through a heat exchanger.
Bailey Plumbing & Heating Services Ltd
Engineers to Commercial, Industrial, Modular and Residential Buildings
128 Winchester Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG31 8RX
Tel/Fax: 01476 593537
Email: info@baileyplumbingservices.co.uk
