HEAT PUMPS


Meeting the needs of various applications


As commercial heat pumps become more widely deployed in an increasing variety of facilities, the industry faces the challenge of matching the technology to a wide range of very different long- term demand patterns, says James Cooper.


James Cooper www.lochinvar.ltd.uk


S We also provided three Squire


Renewables manager at Lochinvar


ome heat pumps perform better than others in different conditions and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all


solution that meets the complexities of commercial building solutions. In recent months, we have collaborated with consulting engineers, contractors, and end clients on a series of contrasting projects that illustrate the versatility of heat pumps but also the need for detailed design work up front to ensure the chosen low carbon system can meet a growing range of requirements. Having a highly flexible range of


products is important, of course, but it is still hard work to adapt heat pumps and their ancillaries to achieve a fully integrated result. It requires good engineering and understanding of the likely long-term demands a facility will place on its heating, hot water, and cooling systems.


Making the grade One example is the work the Lochinvar team did with consultants Ingleton Wood, who were aiming to provide a high performance, energy efficient, complete system solution for the refurbishment of an historic London school.


Christ’s College in East Finchley


can trace its origins back to 1842, but today, it is a secondary school with academy status and since 2002 has offered education to both girls and boys, specialising in maths and sciences. As part of a modernisation programme, the school management sought to upgrade the heating and hot water systems in a way that was sympathetic to modern low carbon and energy efficiency standards. This led to the specification by


Ingleton Wood of four Lochinvar Amicus HT (high temperature) heat pumps complete with factory-fitted hydraulic kits and supported by an LBT thermal store with hot water storage capacity of 2,000 litres.


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indirect water heaters and two EFB wall hung, gas-fired condensing boilers to produce the domestic hot water (DHW) and as back-up to the heat pumps for times when demand is high – or to provide continuity of hot water supply in the unlikely event of a heat pump failure. Our air-to-water heat pumps can


produce hot water up to 70ºC while still achieving high energy efficiencies. The four-pipe simultaneous cooling with heating and heat recovery units provide particularly impressive environmental performance. The high temperatures achieved makes them especially useful as direct low carbon replacements for gas boilers in buildings with high hot water demands without requiring a substantial remodelling of the heating and/or hot water systems. They also use the very low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R290 (propane), which is one of the most climate-friendly refrigerants on the market. It has a GWP of just three and an ozone depletion factor (ODP) of zero. Another benefit is that it does not contain any poly-fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) which are now subject to stricter restrictions in the UK and Europe. The system was installed by the


contractor JC Gas with Lochinvar providing commissioning support.


Luxury care Four Lochinvar air source heat pumps were also chosen for a new luxury 72-bedroom care home set in rolling Yorkshire countryside. The home is the latest addition to the retirement community at Lavender Fields Care Village, which also includes 24


privately-owned bungalows near the picturesque village of Barmby Moor. The 72 luxury bedrooms enjoy views over the countryside and the community’s landscaped gardens. Lochinvar was specified to provide a fully integrated heating and hot water package including energy saving heat pumps, thermal store, two storage vessels, and ancillaries. The system, which was designed and installed by Leeds-based mechanical services contractor Sayes, and overseen by the main contractor Firecrest Construction, is managed by a priority control system that keeps energy use low while ensuring the right balance between hot water production and the home’s underfloor heating system. The system at Lavender Fields uses


a three-port priority demand function which allows the system to prioritise hot water, in line with the specific demands of a care home, and then switch to heating mode when the hot water demand has been met. This highly energy efficient approach


is further boosted by using a thermal store that helps to smooth out the peak loads and reduces the number of times the compressor starts and stops – so helping to prolong operational life and improve reliability.


Sporting chance The insurance and financial planning giant NFU Mutual also needed a very specific type of low carbon hot water system for an on-site sports facility as part of the refurbishment of its headquarters near Stratford-upon- Avon. From its origins in the farming


Two storage vessels used as part of a fully integrated heating and hot water package


community more than a century ago, NFU Mutual has grown into a £1bn turnover UK-wide organisation and employs more than 1,000 people at its recently refurbished headquarters at Tiddington. The best solution for the


sports facility was a Lochinvar


Four Lochinvar air source heat pumps providing heating and hot water at Lavender Fields Care Village


Aquastore, specified and installed by Worcestershire-based commercial heating specialists Ignis Group, which first removed a plate heat exchanger and two Lochinvar storage vessels. The Aquastore is the UK’s most


powerful heat pump water heater, offering an output of 8kW and 455 litres of hot water storage capacity in a compact monobloc package combining heat pump and storage vessel. It can deliver up to 65ºC hot water in both efficiency and hybrid modes and up to 490 litres in a peak hour with a 50ºC temperature rise. Its space saving monobloc


construction means it is easy to manoeuvre into position and offers plenty of options for positioning – another important consideration for replacement projects. It is also a straightforward ‘plug and play’ process to set up and commission and it comes with built in redundancy in the shape of back up immersion heating to ensure no interruptions to the hot water supply. This approach perfectly suited NFU’s desire to maintain good hot water supplies for staff using its on-site sports facilities while also considerably improving the sustainability of the pavilion. It was keen to have an all- electric solution and had considered several heat pump options before deciding that the Aquastore would meet all its requirements. The contrasting demands of these


projects proves the point that recent advances in heat pump technology mean they are now suitable for almost any type of application. However, good design, installation, and commissioning – underpinned by communication and collaboration throughout the supply chain – are essential to ensure the system can go on to meet its full potential throughout its operating life. ■


EIBI | JUNE 2024


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