Heat pump- a mechanical device that allows for heat transfer from a resource with low potential thermal energy (low temperature) to a heating system (coolant) with an elevated temperature. Let's try to explain this in more understandable language.

Gone are the days when people heated their homes by burning wood in fireplaces or stoves. They are being replaced by multifunctional long-burning boilers. In regions where main gas is available, efficient gas equipment is used for heating. In places inaccessible to gas mains, it is increasingly used.

Humanity understands that burning non-renewable energy sources is not a promising business; resources are gradually depleted. Scientists don't stop searching new ways of producing thermal energyand develop modern mechanisms to implement the assigned tasks.

In one such project, a heat pump was designed. Indeed, just like to the majority heat-generating units, the operation of a heat pump is not possible without electrical energy. A serious difference is that electricity is not involved in heating, for example, a heating element, as in an oil radiator, and does not close the spiral in a heat gun. A heat pump does not have heating elements, it does not create thermal energy, the heat pump only serves as a carrier of it from the environment to the consumer (coolant).

The electricity consumed by the heat pump is spent only on compressing the refrigerant and pumping it around to circulate it. The refrigerant acts as a necessary working environment, it is he who moves heat from the environment to the heating system and hot water supply system. This review will help us how to choose a heat pump, the principle of its operation, and also learn about the pros and cons of such equipment.

Heat pump for heating

Traditional heating of a private home is still preferable if inexpensive resources are abundant. The question is, what to do when the availability of cheap sources is limited? An alternative solution is a heat pump - more than 40 years of operating experience in the European Union tells us that this can be very effective.

In the Russian Federation, the heat pump has not received proper distribution. The reason for this is two factors. Firstly, there is an abundance of oil, gas, and wood. Secondly, it is stopped by the high price and lack of popularization. Information about heat pumps is very scarce, the principle of their operation is not clear, and there is not enough information about the benefits.

In the European Union, fuel prices are so high that geothermal heating systems show benefits in operation. For example, up to 95% of households in Sweden and Norway they useheat pumps as the main source of heating. The International Energy Agency predicts that heat pumps will begin to provide 10% of energy demand for heating in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries by 2020, and by 2050 this figure will reach 30%.

Heat pump for heating - operating principle

From a school physics course, recalling the second law of thermodynamics, it is known for certain that heat from a hot body is transferred to a cold one without any mechanisms. The trick is how to transfer heat in the opposite direction? To do this, we will need a series of actions that ensure results.

These are the actions that a heat pump will help us perform. The energy costs for operating a heat pump depend proportionally on the temperature difference between the media involved in this process.

Have you ever touched the black grille of a refrigerator at the back? Anyone can verify that the back wall is very hot. Pointing a laser pyrometer at the black grating, you can see that its surface temperature is about 40°C. In this way, refrigeration equipment engineers recover unnecessary heat from inside the freezer.

It is known that in the late forties of the last century, inventor Robert Weber drew attention to the useless heating of air with a refrigerator radiator. The inventor thought about it and connected an indirect heating boiler to it. As a result, Robert supplied the household with hot water in the required volume. It was then that the enthusiast began to think about how to “turn” the refrigerator inside out and transform the cooling device into a heating device. I must admit, he succeeded.

How does a heat pump work?

The principle of operation of a heat pump is based on the fact that underground at any time of the year, falling below the freezing level, we will encounter temperatures above zero. It turns out that the frost-free soil layer is right under our feet. What if you use it as the back wall of the freezer?

Applying the operating principle of refrigeration equipment, To transfer heat from the underground to the home space, a system of pipes is used through which refrigerant circulates. Freon refrigerants are heated by underground heat and begin to evaporate. Cold air from outside cools it, causing the freon to condense.

By heating the heat by alternating cycles of evaporation and heating, the heat pump forces the refrigerant to circulate. The compressor creates pressure, forcing freon to move through the tubes of two heat exchangers.

In the first heat exchanger, freon evaporates at low pressure, during which heat is absorbed from the immediate surrounding atmosphere. The same refrigerant is then compressed by a compressor under high pressure and moved to a second coil where it is condensed. It then releases the heat it absorbed earlier in the cycle.

The booster compressor plays the main role in the process. By increasing the pressure, the freon condenses and produces more heat than it received from the warm earth. Thus, ground positive values ​​​​of + 7 ° C andtransforms into comfortable home conditions + 24°C.

By using a heat pump for heating, we achieve high efficiency.

I would like to note that the entire structure does not require a specially dedicated electrical wiring line. Power consumption is comparable to the energy consumption of a household electric kettle. The trick is that the heat pump “produces” thermal energy four times more than it consumes electricity. To heat a cottage of 300 m2, in severe frosts of 30°C, no more than 3 kW will be spent.

However, the owner of a geothermal pump will have to fork out a lot at the beginning. The cost of equipment and materials for connection is at least $4,500. Let's add installation work and drilling, and the same amount, it turns out that the simplest system will cost 10 thousand dollars.

It is clear that it will cost an order of magnitude cheaper. But pay monthly based on 1 kW per 10 m2will have to anyway. So it turns out that for 300 sq. meters at home it will take 30 kW - 10 times more than will be spent on a heat pump.

Calculations for heating with gas using a gas boiler give approximately the same figures - 2000 rubles per month, which is comparable to the operation of a heat pump. Unfortunately, not everyone lives in a gasified area.

The heat pump has an undeniable advantage. In the summer, such a “reverse freezer” can be “turned inside out” and with a slight movement of the hand, the heat pump turns into an air conditioner. On hot days it’s +30°C outside, but in the dungeon it’s cool. Using tubes filled with coolant, the pump will transfer the cold of the underground into the home. Next, the fan is turned on, so we get an economical cooling system.

Operating practice indicates payback periods from 3 to 7 years. The Scandinavian countries have long calculated their profits and heat themselves using this method. A striking example is the giant heat pump in Stockholm, geothermal equipment. The source of thermal energy in winter and coolness in summer is the waters of the Baltic Sea. The slogan fully applies to the heat pump: pay now - save later! Savings are becoming greater due to the fact that energy resources are becoming more expensive.

Heat pump. The truth about its effectiveness.

Unfortunately, not everything is so rosy with efficiency today. One of the main questions tormenting the consumer remains: to buy or not to buy a heat pump. Our advice is to carefully weigh the pros and cons; most likely, the option of buying a conventional one will cost less after use, and installation will be easier.

If we consider a heat pump as a concept of the future, as a new idea for generating heat, the engineering idea definitely deserves respect. Geothermal equipment works, you can touch it with your hands, and every year it becomes more and more efficient. However, if we calculate how much money we will spend on its operation, add the initial costs of purchase and installation, we will most likely get an amount showing that we will spend much more money on it than on any other type of heat generating device.

Considering a heat pump as an economic system, when you spend 100 rubles on its operation and receive 300 rubles worth of thermal energy, do not forget that you paid a lot of money for the right to receive an excess profit of 200 rubles. By the way, in the European Union, sales of heat pumps are supported by government programs.

So in Finland, more than 60 thousand heat pumps are sold annually and the number of sales is growing at a 5% rate. But firstly, the economic effect of using such equipment there is higher due to expensive electricity. The cost of electricity in Finland is 35 euro cents, compared to Russia – 7 euro cents. Secondly, the subsidy program provides reimbursement for the purchase of a heat pump in the amount of 3,000 EURO.

As long as gas and electricity prices remain low, introducing a heat pump as a major competitor remains challenging. Mass consumption will become possible only in the event of a crisis with hydrocarbon production or a crisis with electricity generation.

How to choose the right heat pump

First stage.

Calculation of the required heat for heating a house. To select a heat pump (HP) that is included in the heating system of a house, it is important to calculate the heat demand. An accurate calculation will help you avoid unnecessary cost overruns, as this leads to unnecessary expenses.

Second phase.

Which heat source to choose for your heat pump. This decision depends on many components, the main ones:

• Financial component. This includes the direct cost of the equipment itself, as well as the work of installing a geothermal probe or laying an underground thermal circuit. This depends on the location of the site itself, as well as on the immediate surroundings (reservoirs, buildings, communications) and geology.

• Operational component. The main cost is the operation of the heat pump. This figure depends on the heating mode of your building and the selected heat source.

Third stage.

Analysis of initial data for selecting a heat pump:

1. Budget for the proposed system.
2. Heating system: radiators, air heating, heated floor.
3. The area of ​​the site that can be allocated for laying a thermal collector.
4. Is it possible to drill on the site?
5. Geology of the site to determine the depth of the geothermal probe if such a decision is made.
6. Is air conditioning required in summer?
7. Is air heating available or planned in the future?
8. Capital cost of purchase and installation of the HP with all work (approximate initial estimate).

Let's sort it all out in order

Budget for the proposed system

When creating a heating system using a heat pump, it is possible to install an air-water circuit. Capital investments will be minimal, since no expensive excavation work is required. But there will be high costs during the operation phase of this heating system due to low operating efficiency.

If you want to significantly reduce operating costs, then installing a geothermal pump is suitable for you. True, it will be necessary to carry out excavation work to lay the thermal circuit. This system will also provide “passive” cold.

Heating system: radiators, air heating, heated floors

To increase the efficiency of the HP system, it is desirable to reduce the difference between the temperature of the heated medium and the temperature of the heat source.
If you have not yet chosen a heating system, it is recommended to choose heated floors, which allow you to use the heating system more efficiently.

Area of ​​land that can be allocated for laying a thermal collector

The area of ​​the site for installing the collector is critical if it is impossible to drill and install a geothermal probe. Then you will have to lay the collector horizontally, and this will require a space approximately 2 times larger than the area of ​​the heated house. It should be taken into account that this area cannot be used for development, but only in the form of a lawn or lawn, so as not to block the flow of sunlight.

Is it possible to drill on the site?

If it is possible to drill on the site (good geology, access, lack of underground communications), the best solution would be to install a geothermal probe. It provides a stable and long-term heat source.

Geology of the site to determine the depth of the geothermal probe, if such a decision is made

After calculating the total drilling depth, it is necessary to study the site plan and determine how to ensure the drilling depth. In practice, the depth of one well usually does not exceed 150 m.

Therefore, if, for example, the estimated drilling depth is 360 m, then, based on the characteristics of the site, it can be divided into 4 wells of 90 m each, or 3 of 120 m each, or 6 of 60 m each. But we must take into account that the distance between the nearest wells should not be less than 6 m.
The cost of drilling operations is directly proportional to the drilling depth.

Is air conditioning required in summer?

If air conditioning is required in the summer, then the obvious choice is a heat pump of the “water-to-water” or “ground-to-water” type; other heat pumps are not ready to effectively and economically perform air conditioning functions.

Is air heating available or planned in the future?

It is possible to integrate the heat pump into a single air heating system. This solution will allow to unify engineering networks.

Capital cost of purchasing and installing a heat pump with all work

The initial estimated capital costs* for purchase and installation depend on the type of heat pump:

HP with underground collector:

Works - $2500
Operating costs - $350/year

VT with probe:
Equipment and materials - $4500
Works - $4500
Operating costs - $320/year

Air VT:
Equipment and materials - $6500
Work - $400
Operating costs - $480/year

TN “water-water”:
Equipment and materials - $4500
Works - $3500
Operating costs - $280/year

* – approximate, average market prices. The final cost depends on the selected equipment manufacturer, the region of work performed, the cost of drilling operations and site conditions, and so on. Estimating department note

Fourth stage. Types of work

Single. The heat pump is the only heat source, providing 100% of the heat demand. Works for operating temperatures not higher than 55 °C.
Paired. The HP and the boiler work together, which allows the boiler to achieve higher operating temperatures.

Monoenergetic. The HP and the electric boiler form a power system with only one external energy source. This allows you to smoothly regulate power consumption, but increases the load on the input machine.

Selecting a heat pump

After collecting all the initial data and working out the main technical solutions, it is possible to select the appropriate type of HP. The configuration and choice of equipment supplier will depend on your financial capabilities. The main thing is to approach the choice of system with a full understanding of what you want. We will help you choose and implement a comfortable heating system. It can take into account all the nuances: from the climate control function to the distribution of heat across zones of the house.

Conclusion

By choosing an ecological heating system with a heat pump, you can be confident in the future. You get complete independence from heat supply organizations, world oil prices and the political situation in the country. The only thing you need is electricity. But over time, the generation of electricity can be transferred to absolute autonomy with the help of a windmill.

Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular. With the help of these devices you can heat (cool) houses and organize hot water supply, saving significant money.

It is quite difficult for people far from physics to understand the principle of operation of heat pumps, and therefore many misconceptions are being circulated on the Internet, which are used by unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers. In this article we will try to explain in an accessible form the principle of operation and dispel some of the myths that this wonderful unit has acquired.

pros

We know from school that under normal conditions a colder substance cannot give up its heat to a hotter one, but on the contrary, it is heated by it until their temperatures are equal. This is the holy truth. But the heat pump creates such conditions that the colder environment begins to give up its heat to the warmer one, thereby cooling even more.

The simplest, tired example of a heat pump is a refrigerator. In it, heat is pumped from a colder chamber into a warmer kitchen area. At the same time, the freezer cools even more, and the kitchen heats up even more from the radiator located on the rear panel of the refrigerator.

The operating principle of most heat pumps is based on the properties of intermediate coolants (gases, most often freons) that are used in these machines. It is freons that are the intermediary that allows you to take heat from a colder body, giving it to a hotter one.

You've probably noticed that if you quickly release compressed gas from a lighter refill can, it evaporates and cools the can, which can become covered with frost even in hot weather. The opposite is also true: when compressed, gas heats up. Keeping this in mind, it will not be at all difficult for you to understand the principle of operation of a heat pump, the simplest diagram of which is shown in the figure.

Heat pump components

The simplest heat pump consists of four important components:

• evaporator;
• capacitor;
• compressor;
• capillary.

The compressor compresses the freon into a liquid state in the condenser, which heats up. It is this heat that can be used in heating or hot water supply by organizing the simplest heat exchange between a hot condenser and a colder room or boiler.

Passing through the condenser, the liquefied freon cools, giving off heat during heat exchange to heating radiators or heated floor pipes, and begins to condense. Passing through the capillary into the evaporator, the freon again becomes gaseous, while cooling the evaporator (remember the frost on the can?).

To ensure that the process does not stop, you need to constantly supply heat to the evaporator, otherwise the freon there will simply stop evaporating, because the temperature of the evaporator can drop significantly with constant operation of the compressor. Even a temperature of minus thirty, supplied to the evaporator, may be sufficient to maintain evaporation, because the evaporation temperature of the gases used in heat pumps is much lower than this value.

Let's say the temperature of freon evaporation is minus sixty degrees Celsius, and we blow frosty street air onto the evaporator, with a temperature of minus thirty - freon, naturally, will evaporate, taking away heat even from such cold air. Thus, it turns out that the heat pump, as it were, pumps the temperature from a colder environment to a warmer one.

What to look for when buying?

This effect gives rise to many myths that unscrupulous “sellers” use to better sell their products.

The most common myth is the assertion that the efficiency of heat pumps exceeds one. It is clear that this statement is pure nonsense. In fact, the efficiency of heat engines cannot be more than one, and even for modern heat pumps it is quite small - less than the cheapest oil heater. People simply often confuse efficiency and the so-called COP.

COP is more of an economic coefficient than a physical one. It shows the ratio of paid electricity for pumping free heat from the street to the amount of heat entering the room. Those. KOP 5 - this simply means that to pump 5 kW of free heat from the street to the house, we spent 1 kW of paid electricity. It’s just that the COP does not take into account free thermal energy from the street, but only counts what was received as a result and what was spent for it.

Another myth is also related to the COP: in the passports of heat pumps and on sellers’ price tags, a single COP value is proudly indicated, which simply misleads buyers. The fact is that the COP of heat pumps is a variable value, not a constant one. And many unscrupulous businessmen are silent about this, because they indicate the COP for the most favorable conditions, when it is almost maximum. And this is much more dangerous than misconceptions about the efficiency being over-unity, because is fraught with real consequences.

Imagine that you believed that you would spend 1 kW of electricity to produce 5 kW of heat for the same heating in winter, because the heat pump data sheet states that COP = 5. We bought a heat pump with the required power, assembled a heating system... And at the most inopportune moment, when the frosts are the most severe, your heater consumes not 1 in 5, but 1 in 2 in the best case, or is not at all able to produce the necessary heat for heating. And then the understanding comes that it is possible to heat with this particular system only in the off-season... A very unpleasant situation - to give a lot of money and still heat with cheap oil radiators in cold weather, and only because you relied on the COP and stable, irreducible heat production.

Today the entire civilized world is struggling to save energy resources. Of course, no one has yet succeeded in creating a perpetual motion machine, but an almost constant source of heat supply has already been found. This is our environment:

• atmosphere;
• the soil;
• groundwater;
• natural bodies of water.

The only question that remains is: how can heat be accumulated from the external environment and directed to internal needs?

For these purposes, a unit such as a heat pump is used. In fact, many technically educated people already know it - it is implemented in any modern refrigeration or climate control system.

Moreover, this unit works in the most direct way: in heating mode, they accumulate external atmospheric heat, transferring it to internal heat transfer devices - ventilated radiators.

It should be noted right away that using such a device will be effective for heating any isolated spaces with heat source temperature exceeding one degree Celsius.

The operating principle of this unit is fundamental on Carnot's law. It is based on accumulation of low-grade thermal energy by refrigerant with its subsequent transfer to the consumer.

1. The refrigerant, which has a lower temperature, is heated from external sources– soil, deep wells, natural reservoirs, while passing into a gaseous state of aggregation.
2. He forcibly compressed by the compressor, heating up even more, and again acquires a liquid state, releasing all the accumulated thermal energy in the heating radiators.
3. The cycle repeats– the liquid refrigerant again enters the external circuit of the system, where, evaporating, it is charged with thermal energy from external heat sources.

In this case, only the electricity necessary for compression and circulation of the refrigerant in the system is consumed, that is, heating of the interior is carried out in the most economical way.

Types of heat pumps

There are three main modifications of heat pumps:

• • • "water - water";
    • "soil - water";
    • "air - water".

Water-to-water heat generators

Today, heat pump units are widely used in highly developed European countries. For example, in the Netherlands, entire cottage communities are heated using this heat exchange device, since there is an abundance of geothermal mines filled with water with a constant temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. And this is practically a free source of heat.

A similar variation of heat-generating
equipment is called “water - water”. This category includes any type of thermal systems using liquid media as sources of thermal energy.

Typically this operating principle is implemented as follows:

• warm water from the well is supplied to the external, after which it is discharged into another well or into a nearby body of water.
• The radiator is mounted at the bottom of an ice-free reservoir. It is made from stainless or metal-plastic pipe. Moreover, to save expensive refrigerant - freon - it is often used intermediate coolant circuit filled with “anti-freeze”- antifreeze or glycol solution (antifreeze).

The cost of water-to-water units varies widely and depends, first of all, on the heat generation capacity and the country of origin.

So, the lowest-power Russian-made unit, capable of developing thermal power about 6 kW, will cost almost $2000, and industrial two-compressor equipment with a power of more than 100 kW will cost almost thirty thousand dollars USA.

Air-water units

When using the atmosphere or sunlight as a source of thermal energy The heat pump is considered to be of the air-water class. In this case, a circulation fan is often installed on the external heat exchanger, which additionally pumps warm external air.

The cost of an 18-kilowatt air-heating apparatus of this class made in Russia starts at $5,000, and for twelve-kilowatt equipment from the Japanese company Fujitsu the consumer will have to pay almost $9,000.

Equipment of the "soil - water" class

There is also a variation that uses thermal energy source potential accumulated in the soil.
There are two types of such structures: vertical and horizontal.

• Vertical— the layout of the heat collection collector is linear. All the system is placed in vertical trenches, the depth of which is 20...100 meters.
• Horizontal- external manifold layouts, usually metal-plastic spirally twisted pipes, are laid in 2…4 meter horizontal trenches. And in this case, The greater the depth of the external heat sink, the better the heating “from the ground” works..

The price for units of the "soil - water" class is comparable to equipment of the same capacity of the "water - water" class and starts at two thousand US dollars for a six-kilowatt pump.

Pros and cons of a heating system based on a heat pump

The positive properties of heat pumps include:

Review: Last year I purchased a monoblock air-water heat pump for heating a country house. Expensive, of course, but I hope it will pay off in 10 years. The supplier installed the pump himself and connected it to the heating system, everything works practically without my participation. I'm happy with the choice.

The disadvantages of a heat pump include:

• High installation cost. For normal operation of thermal equipment, it is necessary to make significant efforts - dig long trenches, lay deep wells, or often overcome significant distances to the nearest body of water.
• The need for high-quality implementation of the system. The slightest leak of refrigerant or intermediate coolant can ruin all efforts. Therefore, when laying out a circuit of any variation, it is necessary to use the labor of exclusively qualified specialists and during the operation of the system, eliminate the risk of its depressurization.

DIY heat pump. Assembly and installation

Of course, the initial investment in organizing home heating using this technology is very high. Therefore, many ordinary people who are interested in this ultra-economical system have a desire to save at least a little by building it themselves.

To do this you need:

• Buy a compressor. Any functional unit from a household split air conditioning system will do.
• Build a capacitor. In the simplest case, it can be the usual stainless steel tank with a volume of 100 liters. It is cut in half, and a coil of small diameter copper pipe is mounted inside it. The thickness of the coil wall must be at least one millimeter. After unfastening the coil, it is necessary to weld the tank back into a complete structure, observing the tightness conditions.
• Assemble the evaporator. This could be a plastic 60-80 liter container with a ¾ inch pipe built into it.
• To organize an external contour located in the ground, it is better to use modern– they are much more durable than classic metal ones and their installation is much more reliable and faster.

All that remains is to invite a refrigeration equipment technician, so that, using specialized equipment, he will qualitatively seal all the joints of the system and fill it with freon.

Watch a video about installing a Daikin Altherma heat pump:

This completes the installation of the heat generating unit. You can take advantage of all its advantages, the main one of which is low energy consumption - electricity with significant heat generation capacity.

The first versions of heat pumps could only partially satisfy the needs for thermal energy. Modern varieties are more efficient and can be used for heating systems. This is why many homeowners try to install a heat pump with their own hands.

We will tell you how to choose the best option for a heat pump, taking into account the geodata of the area where it is planned to be installed. The article proposed for consideration describes in detail the principle of operation of “green energy” systems and lists the differences. With our advice, you will undoubtedly settle on an effective type.

For independent craftsmen, we present the technology for assembling a heat pump. The information presented for consideration is supplemented by visual diagrams, photo selections and a detailed video instruction in two parts.

The term heat pump refers to a set of specific equipment. The main function of this equipment is to collect thermal energy and transport it to the consumer. The source of such energy can be any body or environment with a temperature of +1º or more degrees.

There are more than enough sources of low-temperature heat in our environment. This is industrial waste from enterprises, thermal and nuclear power plants, sewage, etc. To operate heat pumps in home heating, three self-regenerating natural sources are needed - air, water, and earth.

Heat pumps “draw” energy from processes that regularly occur in the environment. The flow of processes never stops, because the sources are recognized as inexhaustible according to human criteria

The three listed potential energy suppliers are directly related to the energy of the sun, which, by heating, moves the air with the wind and transfers thermal energy to the earth. It is the choice of source that is the main criterion according to which heat pump systems are classified.

The operating principle of heat pumps is based on the ability of bodies or media to transfer thermal energy to another body or environment. Receivers and suppliers of energy in heat pump systems usually work in pairs.

The following types of heat pumps are distinguished:

• Air is water.
• Earth is water.
• Water is air.
• Water is water.
• Earth is air.
• Water - water
• Air is air.

In this case, the first word determines the type of medium from which the system takes low-temperature heat. The second indicates the type of carrier to which this thermal energy is transferred. Thus, in heat pumps, water is water, heat is taken from the aquatic environment and liquid is used as a coolant.

A heat pump is a device that heats water in heating and hot water supply systems by compressing freon, initially heated from a low-grade heat source, by a compressor to 28 bar. Under high pressure, a gaseous coolant with an initial temperature of 5-10 ° C; releases a large amount of heat. This allows you to warm up the coolant of the consumption system to 50-60 °C, without the use of traditional fuels. Therefore, it is believed that a heat pump provides the user with the cheapest heat.

For more information about the advantages and disadvantages, watch the video:

Such equipment has been in operation for more than 40 years in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and other countries that support the development of alternative energy at the state level. Not so actively, but more confidently every year, heat pumps are entering the Russian market.

Purpose of the article: review popular heat pump models. The information will be useful to those who seek to save as much as possible on heating and hot water supply of their own home.

The heat pump heats the house with free energy from nature

In theory, heat can be extracted from the air, soil, groundwater, wastewater (including from a septic tank and water pumping station), and open reservoirs. In practice, for most cases, the feasibility of using equipment that takes thermal energy from the air and soil has been proven.

Options with heat extraction from a septic tank or sewage pumping station (SPS) are the most tempting. By passing the coolant through the HP at 15-20 °C, the output temperature can be at least 70 °C. But this option is acceptable only for a hot water supply system. The heating circuit reduces the temperature in the "tempting" source. Which leads to a number of unpleasant consequences. For example, freezing of drains; and if the heat exchange circuit of the heat pump is located on the walls of the sump, then the septic tank itself.

The most popular HPs for the needs of CO and DHW are geothermal (using the heat of the earth) devices. They are distinguished by their best performance in warm and cold climates, in sandy and clayey soils with different groundwater levels. Because the soil temperature below the freezing depth remains almost unchanged throughout the year.

Operating principle of a heat pump

The coolant is heated from a source of low-potential (5...10 °C) heat. The pump compresses the refrigerant, the temperature of which rises (50...60 °C) and heats the coolant of the heating system or hot water supply.

During the operation of the HP, three thermal circuits are involved:

• external (system with coolant and circulation pump);
• intermediate (heat exchanger, compressor, condenser, evaporator, throttle valve);
• consumer circuit (circulation pump, heated floor, radiators; for hot water supply - tank, water points).

The process itself looks like this:

Thermal energy removal circuit

1. The soil heats the saline solution.
2. The circulation pump lifts the brine into the heat exchanger.
3. The solution is cooled by a refrigerant (freon) and returned to the ground.

Heat exchanger

1. Liquid freon, evaporating, takes away thermal energy from the brine.
2. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, causing its temperature to rise sharply.
3. In the condenser, freon transfers energy through the evaporator to the coolant of the heating circuit and becomes liquid again.
4. The cooled refrigerant goes through the throttle valve to the first heat exchanger.

Heating circuit

1. The heated coolant of the heating system is drawn by the circulation pump to the dissipating elements.
2. Transfers thermal energy to the air mass of the room.
3. The cooled coolant returns through the return pipe to the intermediate heat exchanger.

Video with a detailed description of the process:

What is cheaper for heating: electricity, gas or heat pump?

We present the costs of connecting each type of heating. To present the general picture, let’s take the Moscow region. Prices may differ in regions, but the price ratio will remain the same. In the calculations we assume that the site is “bare” - without gas or electricity.

Connection costs

Heat pump. Laying a horizontal contour at MO prices - 10,000 rubles per shift of an excavator with a bucket bucket (removes up to 1,000 m³ of soil in 8 hours). A system for a house of 100 m² will be buried in 2 days (true for loam, on which you can remove up to 30 W of thermal energy from 1 square meter of circuit). About 5,000 rubles will be required to prepare the circuit for operation. As a result, the horizontal option for placing the primary circuit will cost 25,000.

The well will be more expensive (1,000 rubles per linear meter, taking into account the installation of probes, piping them into one line, filling with coolant and pressure testing), but it will be much more profitable for future operation. With a smaller occupied area of ​​the site, the output increases (for a 50 m well - at least 50 W per meter). The pump's needs are covered and additional potential appears. Therefore, the entire system will not work for wear, but with some reserve power. Place 350 meters of contour in vertical wells – 350,000 rubles.

A gas boiler. In the Moscow region, for connection to the gas network, work on the site and installation of the boiler, Mosoblgaz requests from 260,000 rubles.

Electric boiler. Connecting a three-phase network will cost 10,000 rubles: 550 for local electrical networks, the rest for the distribution board, meter and other contents.

Consumption

To operate a HP with a thermal power of 9 kW, 2.7 kW/h of electricity is required - 9 rubles. 53 kopecks at one o'clock,

The specific heat during combustion of 1 m³ of gas is the same 9 kW. Household gas for Moscow region is priced at 5 rubles. 14 kopecks per cubic meter

An electric boiler consumes 9 kW/h = 31 rubles. 77 kop. at one o'clock. The difference with TN is almost 3.5 times.

Exploitation

• If gas is supplied, then the most cost-effective option for heating is a gas boiler. The equipment (9 kW) costs at least 26,000 rubles, the monthly payment for gas (12 hours per day) will be 1,850 rubles.
• Powerful electrical equipment is more profitable from the point of view of organizing a three-phase network and purchasing the equipment itself (boilers - from 10,000 rubles). A warm house will cost 11,437 rubles per month.
• Taking into account the initial investment in alternative heating (equipment 275,000 and installation of a horizontal circuit 25,000), a heat pump that consumes electricity at 3,430 rubles/month will pay for itself no earlier than in 3 years.

Comparing all heating options, provided that the system is created from scratch, it becomes obvious: gas will not be much more profitable than a geothermal heat pump, and heating with electricity in the next 3 years is hopelessly inferior to both of these options.

Detailed calculations in favor of operating a heat pump can be found by watching a video from the manufacturer:

Some additions and experience of effective operation are highlighted in this video:

Main characteristics

When choosing equipment from a wide variety of specifications, pay attention to the following characteristics.

Main characteristics of heat pumps

Characteristics	Range of values	Peculiarities
Thermal power, kW	Up to 8	Premises with an area of ​​no more than 80 - 100 m², with a ceiling height of no more than 3 m.
	8-25	For one-level country houses with a ceiling of 2.5 m, an area of ​​50 m²; cottages for permanent residence, up to 260 m².
	Over 25	It is advisable to consider for 2-3 level residential buildings with ceilings of 2.7 m; industrial facilities - no more than 150 m², with a ceiling height of 3 or more.
Power consumption of main equipment (maximum consumption of auxiliary elements) kW/h	From 2 (from 6)	Characterizes the energy consumption of the compressor and circulation pumps (heating elements).
Scheme of work	Air-to-air	The transformed thermal energy of the air is transferred into the room by a flow of heated air through a split system.
	Air - water	The energy removed from the air passed through the device is transferred to the coolant of the liquid heating system.
	Brine-water	The transfer of thermal energy from a renewable source is carried out by a sodium or calcium solution.
	Water-water	Through the open primary circuit, groundwater carries thermal energy directly to the heat exchanger.
Outlet coolant temperature, °C	55-70	The indicator is important for calculating losses on a long heating circuit and when organizing an additional hot heat supply system.
Mains voltage, V	220, 380	Single-phase - power consumption no more than 5.5 kW, only for a stable (lightly loaded) household network; the cheapest - only through a stabilizer. If there is a 380 V network, then three-phase devices are preferable - a larger power range, less likely to “sag” the network.

Model summary table

In the article, we examined the most popular models and identified their strengths and weaknesses. The list of models can be found in the following table:

Model summary table

Model (country of origin)	Peculiarities	price, rub.
Heat pumps for heating small spaces or domestic hot water
1.	Air-water system; works from a single-phase network; the protruding condensation line is inserted into the water tank.	184 493
2.	"Brine-water"; power supply from a three-phase network; variable power control; possibility of connecting additional equipment - recuperator, multi-temperature equipment.	355 161
3.	Air-water heat pump powered by 220V mains and with frost protection function.	524 640
Equipment for heating systems of cottages for permanent residence
4.	“Water - water” scheme. In order for the HP to produce a stable 62 °C coolant in the heating system, the capabilities of the set of compressor and pumps (1.5 kW) are complemented by an electric heater with a power of 6 kW.	408 219
5.	Based on the air-water circuit, the potentials of cooling and heating devices are realized in one device, consisting of two blocks.	275 000
6.	“brine-water”, the device heats the coolant for radiators up to 60 °C, can be used when organizing cascade heating systems.	323 300
7.	In the same housing with the geothermal pump there is a storage tank for the hot water supply system, for 180 liters of coolant	1 607 830
Powerful heat pumps for heating and hot water supply needs
8.	It is possible to extract heat from soil and groundwater; operation as part of cascade systems and remote control are possible; works from a three-phase network.	708 521
9.	"brine-water"; control of the compressor power and the rotation speed of the circulation pumps is carried out through frequency adjustment; additional heat exchanger; network – 380 V.	1 180 453
10.	“water-to-water” operating scheme; built-in primary and secondary circuit pumps; The possibility of connecting solar systems is provided.	630 125

Heat pumps for heating small spaces or domestic hot water

Purpose – economical heating of residential and auxiliary premises, maintenance of the hot water supply system. Single-phase models have the lowest consumption (up to 2 kW). To protect against power surges in the network, they need a stabilizer. The reliability of three-phase is explained by the characteristics of the network (the load is distributed evenly) and the presence of its own protective circuits that prevent damage to the device due to voltage surges. Equipment in this category does not always cope with simultaneous maintenance of the heating system and hot water supply circuit.

1. Huch EnTEC VARIO China S2-E (Germany) – from RUB 184,493.

The Huch EnTEC VARIO cannot be operated independently. Only in conjunction with the storage tank of the hot water supply system. The HP heats water for sanitary needs, cooling the air in the room.

Among the advantages are the low energy consumption of the device, an acceptable water temperature in the DHW circuit and the function of cleaning the system (by periodic short-term heating to 60 ° C) from pathogenic bacteria that develop in a humid environment.

The disadvantages are that gaskets, flanges and cuffs must be purchased separately. Be sure to be original, otherwise there will be drips.

When calculating, you must remember that the device pumps 500 m³ of air per hour, so the minimum area of ​​the room in which the Huch EnTEC VARIO is installed must be at least 20 m², with a ceiling height of 3 meters or more.

2. NIBE F1155-6 EXP (Sweden) – from RUB 355,161.

The model is declared as “intelligent” equipment, with automatic adjustment to the needs of the object. An inverter power supply circuit for the compressor has been introduced, making it possible to adjust the output power.

The presence of such a function with a small number of consumers (water points, heating radiators) makes heating a small house more profitable than in the case of a conventional, non-inverter HP (which does not have a soft start of the compressor and the output power is not regulated). Because at NIBE, at low power values, the heating elements are rarely turned on, and the heat pump’s own maximum consumption is no more than 2 kW.

In a small facility, the noise (47 dB) is not acceptable. The optimal installation option is a separate room. Place the harness on walls not adjacent to the rest rooms.

3. Fujitsu WSYA100DD6 (Japan) – from RUB 524,640.

“Out of the box” only works for heating in one circuit. An optional kit for connecting a second circuit is available, with the possibility of independent configuration for each. But the heat pump itself is designed for heating a room up to 100 m², with a ceiling height of no more than 3 meters.

The list of advantages includes small dimensions, operation from a household power supply, adjustment of the output temperature from 8 to 55 °C, which, according to the manufacturer’s plan, should somehow affect the comfort and accuracy of control of connected systems.

But everything was canceled out by low power. In our climate, heating the declared 100 m², the device will work for wear. This is confirmed by the device’s frequent transitions to “emergency” mode, with the pump turning off and errors on the display. The case is not guaranteed. Fixed by restarting the equipment.

“Accidents” affect energy consumption. Because when the compressor stops, the heating element comes into operation. Therefore, the joint connection of CO and underfloor heating (or DHW) circuits is permissible in a facility with an area of ​​no more than 70 m².

Equipment for heating systems of standard cottages for permanent residence

Geothermal, air and water (removing thermal energy from groundwater) devices are presented here. The declared output power (at least 8 kW) is enough to provide heat to all consumer systems of country (and permanent residence) houses. Many heat pumps in this category have a cooling mode. The implemented inverter power circuits are responsible for the smooth start of the compressor; due to its smooth operation, the delta (temperature difference) of the coolant is reduced. The optimal operating mode of the circuit is maintained (without unnecessary overheating and cooling). This allows you to reduce power consumption in all operating modes of the HP. The greatest economic effect is in air-to-air devices.

4. Vaillant geoTHERM VWW 61/3 (Germany) – from RUB 408,219.

The use of well water as the primary coolant (VWW only) made it possible to simplify the design and reduce the price of the HP without loss of performance.

The device is characterized by low power consumption in the main operating mode and low noise level.

The downside of Vaillant is its demands on water (there are known cases of damage to the supply line and heat exchanger by iron and manganese compounds); work with salt-containing waters should be avoided. The situation is not guaranteed, but if the installation was carried out by service center specialists, then there is someone to file a claim with.

A dry, frost-free room with a volume of at least 6.1 m³ (2.44 m² with a ceiling of 2.5 m) is required. Dropping under the pump is not a defect (condensation is allowed to drain from the surfaces of insulated circuits).

5. LG Therma V AH-W096A0 (Korea) – from RUB 275,000.

Air-to-water heat pump. The device consists of 2 modules: the outer one takes thermal energy from the air masses, the inner one transforms and transfers it to the heating system.

The main advantage is versatility. Can be configured for both heating and cooling the object.

The disadvantage of this LG Therma series is that its (and the entire line’s) potential is not enough for the needs of a cottage with an area of ​​more than 200 m².

An important point: the working units of a two-component system cannot be spaced more than 50 m horizontally and 30 m vertically.

6. STIEBEL ELTRON WPF 10MS (Germany) – from RUB 323,300.

The WPF 10MS model is the most powerful of the STIEBEL ELTRON heat pumps.

Among the advantages are an automatically adjustable heating mode and the ability to connect 6 devices into a cascade (this is a parallel or serial connection of devices to increase flow, pressure or organize an emergency reserve) system with a power of up to 60 kW.

The downside is that organizing a powerful electrical network for simultaneous connection of 6 such devices is only possible with the permission of the local branch of Rostechnadzor.

There is a peculiarity in setting the modes: after making the necessary adjustments to the program, you should wait until the control lamp goes out. Otherwise, after closing the lid, the system will return to the original settings.

7. Daikin EGSQH10S18A9W (Japan) – from RUB 1,607,830.

A powerful device for simultaneous provision of heat from CO, DHW and heated floors of a residential building with an area of ​​up to 130 m².

Programmable and user-controlled modes; All serviced circuits are controlled within the specified parameters; there is a built-in storage tank (for DHW needs) of 180 liters and auxiliary heaters.

Among the shortcomings is the impressive potential, which will not be fully utilized in a house of 130 m²; a price due to which the payback period is extended indefinitely; automatic adaptation to external climatic conditions not implemented in the basic configuration. Environmental thermistors (thermal resistors) are optional. That is, when the external temperature changes, it is proposed to adjust the operating mode manually.

Equipment for objects with high heat consumption

To fully meet the thermal energy needs of residential and commercial buildings with an area of ​​more than 200 m². Remote control, cascade operation, interaction with recuperators and solar systems - expand the user’s capabilities in creating a comfortable temperature.

8. WATERKOTTE EcoTouch DS 5027.5 Ai (Germany) – from RUB 708,521.

The DS 5027.5 Ai modification is the most powerful in the EcoTouch line. Stably warms up the heating circuit coolant and provides thermal energy to the hot water supply system in rooms up to 280 m².

Scroll (the most productive existing) compressor; adjusting the coolant flow rate allows you to obtain stable output temperature readings; color display; Russified menu; neat appearance and low noise level. Every detail is for comfortable use.

When the water points are actively used, the heating elements are turned on, causing energy consumption to increase by 6 kW/h.

9. DANFOSS DHP-R ECO 42 (Sweden) – from RUB 1,180,453.

Powerful enough equipment to provide thermal energy to the hot water supply system and heating circuits of a multi-level cottage with permanent residence.

Instead of an additional heater for DHW, the flow of hot water from the heating circuit supply is used here. By passing already hot water through the desuperheater, the heat pump heats the water in the additional DHW heat exchanger to 90 °C. A stable temperature in the CO and DHW tank is maintained by automatically adjusting the speed of the circulation pumps. Suitable for cascade connection (up to 8 TN).

There are no heating elements for the heating circuit. Additional resources are taken from any combined boiler - the control unit will take from it as much heat as is required in a particular case.

When calculating the space for installing a heat pump, it is necessary to leave a gap of 300 mm between the wall and the rear surface of the device (for ease of control and maintenance of communications).

10. Viessmann Vitocal 300-G WWC 110 (Germany) – from RUB 630,125.

Groundwater serves as the primary coolant. Hence the constant temperature on the first heat exchanger and the highest COP coefficient.

Among the advantages are a low-power auxiliary electric heater on the primary circuit and a proprietary controller (essentially a wireless remote control) for remote control.

Minus - the performance of the circulation pump, the condition of the main line and the primary circuit heat exchanger depend on the quality of the groundwater being distilled. Filtering is required.

Groundwater analysis will help eliminate the occurrence of difficult-to-solve problems with expensive equipment. Which should be done before purchasing a water-to-water heat pump.

Editor's Choice

Many years of experience in the production and operation of heat pumps in Northern Europe allowed our compatriots to narrow down the search area for the most profitable way to heat their home. Real options exist for any request.

Do you need to provide heat to the domestic hot water circuit or the heating system of a residential building up to 80 - 100 m²? Consider the potential NIBE F1155– its “intelligent” filling saves money without compromising heat supply.

A stable temperature in the underfloor heating, CO, and DHW circuits of a cottage of 130 m² will be ensured – a DHW heat exchanger (180 liters) is used here.

Produces a constant heat flow simultaneously for all consumers. The ability to create a cascade of 8 HP allows you to provide heat to an object with an area of ​​at least 3,000 m².

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