HEAT PUMPS


Delivering a more sustainable heating solution


Panasonic’s ECOi-W R290 range of heat pumps has been designed to meet the needs of a variety of applications


offers a great deal of modulation and weather compensation to supply a more efficient and flexible solution to deliver a longer lifespan with minimal maintenance. The Panasonic Cascade Controller can help meet buildings’ heating or cooling demand more efficiently.


With the building sector striving to meet net zero targets, there is a strong demand for more sustainable heating solutions in the commercial sector. Paul Taylor explains how water-based heat pumps can provide a lower-carbon, energy-efficient solution for a variety of applications.


Paul Taylor


UK head of renewable heating for Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions


www.aircon. panasonic.eu/GB_en


T


he latest advances in heat pump technology are proving more energy efficient compared to other forms of


heating, such as gas or oil boilers. In many cases, they can claim to be more energy efficient than condensing gas boilers and will significantly lower a building’s carbon output. This is particularly so in projects where the systems are paired with smart controls delivering benefits in applications such as schools, offices, leisure centres, and large residential buildings. The advantages of deploying air


source heat pumps in such properties are clear. With today’s advances, some systems, such as the Panasonic ECOi-W R290 range, can operate at higher temperatures. They are capable of being connected to an existing heating / hot water infrastructure, which helps to minimise disruption during installation. Manufacturers are ensuring continual development of flexible solutions which meet the unique demands of such buildings, as well as providing plenty of support and training for all elements of the specification, installation and commissioning process.


A renewable answer To meet the rising demand to replace gas boilers, manufacturers have increased their portfolio of energy- efficient alternative technologies


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that meet the challenges across the diverse building sector. For example, at Panasonic we continuously invest in developing heat pump technology in line with the emerging challenges. Our latest solution, the new ECOi-W AQUA-G BLUE air-to-water reversible heat pump, is ideal for a wide range of light commercial applications such as schools, colleges, leisure centres, residential multi-occupancy and industrial buildings. This new series offers improved energy performance, provides a higher water output temperature of 70°C, can be connected to existing elements such as radiators, and utilises R290 natural refrigerant. R290 has a GWP of only 3, taking greater steps towards meeting environmental concerns. Typical technical challenges for such buildings are factors such as the need for long pipe runs with associated increased distribution losses, meaning higher temperatures will be needed to maintain sufficient performance, and costly internal infrastructure could be required. Other issues include the need to serve shared spaces, the vertical distribution of office spaces or apartments, the lack of outside space per property, complex layouts, and so on. However, the latest technologies can match the outputs of traditional gas boilers and address the above issues. For example, the new ECOi-W R290 can provide 70°C output water from just 0°C outside air temperature, meaning it can deliver the output required to meet the challenges present in a wide range of applications. Providing a higher achievable output


temperature becomes a significant tool in overcoming both the technical and logistical challenges that arise


when retrofitting buildings. With the 70°C output, there is less need to upgrade the internal infrastructure, as it may be able to connect to the existing pipework and radiators. This new series of heat pumps has the additional benefit of providing both heating and cooling in one solution. As heat waves are becoming more of a common occurrence, schools, office space and residential multi-occupancy properties are left particularly vulnerable to this extreme weather. With heating and cooling operational through one system, these spaces can more easily achieve comfortable year-round climate control with the use of fan coils.


Cascade control For light commercial properties, efficiency is the key to creating a more sustainable building and reducing heating costs. Cascade control is increasingly utilised, using parallel- connected heat pumps and switching on the most efficient number as demand increases or decreases. In addition, the controller includes an intuitive touchscreen display with information about each connected heat pump – ideal for quick servicing and remote maintenance tasks to help save time and costs. The new ECOi-W system from


Panasonic can work in cascade or simultaneously with up to eight heat pump units to achieve a capacity of 640kW for those more demanding projects. The Panasonic system can then be


controlled remotely to help provide equal run hours across all the heat pump units within the system. This sophisticated control strategy


Empowering every property With suitable technology being introduced to the market, the important next step to make the change happen is a collaboration between manufacturers, property developers, suppliers, and specifiers to ensure adequate knowledge is provided to end users. An important consideration for light commercial buildings is that administrative hurdles, for example, the ownership of a property, can be diverse. With properties being leasehold, owned by housing associations, or various business owners within an office space, the challenge becomes heightened to gain buy-in from a large audience. Therefore, it is important that manufactures continue to provide the most up-to-date information on the alternative technologies on the market and their capabilities, to ensure effective decision-making is possible when retrofitting these light commercial type buildings.


Preparing engineers With the advent of new and rapid integration of alternative heating solutions, the role of engineers has assumed heightened significance, and education, training, and upskilling are vital. Although these alternative solutions offer a more sustainable solution, they do necessitate cautious handling, installation, and maintenance to ensure the safety of both engineers and end users. Transitioning to new, environmentally friendly alternatives demands specialised expertise and continuous training for engineers. Professionals in the heating


and cooling sector must remain attuned to shifting technologies, safety protocols, and emerging best practices. Ongoing professional development initiatives and training sessions enhance qualifications and competencies. Recognising this imperative, Panasonic places great importance on supporting engineers in their pursuit of knowledge, offering comprehensive online and hands- on accredited training, plus we have increased the number of training centres across the UK to empower engineers with the skills required to handle this transition. ■


EIBI | JUNE 2024


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