COVER STORY
Littelfuse products: pioneering sustainability in heat pump systems
Innovative solutions for a greener future
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, heat pumps have emerged as the key player in heating and cooling technologies. They offer a highly effi cient method of transferring heat from one place to another, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. With heat pump installations forecasted to surge from 14M units in 2023 to nearly 85M by 20301
, HVAC manufacturers face mounting pressure to deliver highly reliable, energy-
effi cient systems. Littelfuse enables this transformation with proven circuit protection, power control, and sensing technologies that enhance safety, longevity, and sustainability. In this month’s edition, Pierre Morris, fi eld application engineer at Anglia, provides an overview of heat pump systems and introduces products from Littelfuse that enable system designers to create innovative and more sustainable solutions.
Understanding heat pumps
A heat pump is an electrical device that uses small amounts of energy to move heat from one location to another. Essentially, it works like an air conditioner in reverse, it extracts heat from the outside air (even when it’s cold) and transfers it indoors. Most domestic heat pumps are designed to function in heating mode only, commercial building heat pumps are usually designed with an additional cooling function allowing them to remove heat from the indoor air and releasing it outside, thus cooling the interior space. Heat pumps come in various types, each with its own unique method of extracting and transferring heat from different sources: the most common type, air-source, extracts heat from the outside air; ground-source (geothermal) utilises the consistent temperatures found underground; and water- source, which can tap into heat present in bodies of water like lakes or rivers.
Heat pumps offer several advantages over traditional systems, not only are they versatile providing heating and cooling functions making them a year-round solution, they are also more energy effi cient using signifi cantly less energy compared to conventional heating systems, resulting in lower utility bills. Heat pumps, with proper maintenance, can also last much longer than traditional systems. Combined with their reduced energy consumption they offer a compelling solution which can reduce C02 emissions for a more sustainable future.
Littelfuse innovations in heat pump applications Littelfuse has been at the forefront of developing technologies that enhance the performance and sustainability of heat pumps. Their products ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency in heat pump operations. Heat pumps rely on various electrical components to function optimally. Littelfuse offers a range of circuit protection, power control and sensing devices suitable for use in heat pump applications. Products include
10 May 2025 Components in Electronics
Heat pump function overview – air/ground source in heating mode
overcurrent protection fuses and fuse holders, varistors, TVS and overvoltage protectors, gas discharge tubes (GDT), rectifiers, thyristors, triacs, MOSFETs, IGBT modules, gate drivers, optical isolators, temperature sensors, current sensors and switches.
Littelfuse have product solutions for each numbered stage in the Heat pump block diagram from the AC input protection stage to the wireless interface.
AC input protection
AC input protection is an essential stage in safeguarding heat pump systems from electrical voltage surges and overcurrent conditions caused by faults or environmental conditions, after all a critical consideration in systems designed to improve sustainability is they must be reliable and have longevity built in. Littelfuse have several product families which can be used in this stage: Overcurrent fuses: Protect the system from excessive current, preventing damage and ensuring safe operation. Examples include the Series 216 ceramic body cartridge
fast-acting fuses designed to IEC specification for use in the mains input circuit. Varistors: Offer protection against transient voltage spikes, maintaining the integrity of heat pump electronics. The popular Littelfuse UltraMOV Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) Series are designed for applications requiring high peak surge current ratings and high energy absorption capability. The TMOV and iTMOV thermally protected varistors integrate a radial leaded MOV with a thermally activated element for added protection, they are designed to open in the event of overheating due to abnormal overvoltage and help to facilitate compliance with UL1449. Gas discharge tubes: GDTs function as switches which dissipate a minimum amount of energy and therefore can handle currents that far surpass other types of transient voltage protection. Their gas-filled, rugged ceramic metal construction make them well suited to adverse environments. Examples include the Series CG2 and CG3 available in surface mount, through hole and axial lead formats offering protection up to 7.5KV.
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