Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat Pump Water Heater

Overview

The world is evolving, and so are the appliances we use at home. Today, people are thinking about cost-effective ways of conserving energy by utilising what is available to them naturally. The heat that is available to us in the atmosphere is one such nature’s gift that can be used for heating water. And heat pumps use this heat that is naturally available in nature to heat water.

Heating water in an electric geyser or electric boiler is a costly affair. Especially when the heating coil is corroded or there is a faulty line, your electricity consumption will stealthily steep up, making you wonder what went wrong. A heat pump water heater is an inexpensive and eco-friendly solution to your water heating needs. Heat pumps can provide you with hot water 24/7 and can save you up to 70% on your electricity bills. Nuetech Solar, one of the best heat pump companies in Bangalore, understands your needs. If you have decided to buy a heat pump system, read on to learn more about it.

What is a heat pump water heater? Understanding the basics

A heat pump water heater is a device that uses electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Hence, they are two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse. A refrigerator takes heat from inside a box and sends it into the surrounding room. A heat pump water heater takes heat from the surrounding air and transfers it to heat water in a storage tank at a higher temperature. Unlike a furnace, heat pumps extract heat from outside and transfer it indoors. Regardless of weather conditions, heat pumps work in all climates.

Mechanism (working procedure of a heat pump)

  • The operation begins with air transferred through an ‘evaporator’ which contains liquid ‘refrigerant’, using the fan
  • The refrigerant then evaporates into a gas and extract heat from the air
  • The warm gas (refrigerant) then transfers through the compressor, resulting in increased pressure and becoming a hot gas
  • This hot gas passes through the heat exchanger *(condenser) and transfers the heat to the attached water tank
  • The gaseous refrigerant then cools down in the condenser and turns into a warm liquid
  • This warm liquid then goes into an expansion valve – becomes cool – and transfer to the evaporator again
  • The cycles continue in the same manner
  • Heat pumps continue absorbing heat from the air and transfer it to the water tank till it reaches the desired temperature

A heat pump water heater is comprised of an evaporator, refrigerant, compressor, condenser, and an expansion valve. The air is first transferred, with the help of a fan, through an evaporator that contains liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant evaporates into gas and pulls heat from the air. The refrigerant is now a warm gas which passes through the compressor, turning hot. The hot gas passes through the condenser (heat exchanger) and transfers the heat to the water in the storage tank. The hot gas, after passing on the heat, transforms into a warm liquid in the condenser. From here, this refrigerant liquid flows into an expansion valve, cools down, and goes back to the evaporator again to continue the cycle. This cycle continues until the stored water reaches the desired temperature.

Heat Pump Components :

  • Evaporator
  • Refrigerant
  • Compressor
  • Condenser
  • Expansion Valve

How does a heat pump work?

Taking pride in owning an important home appliance also means you know its value. And to know its value, you need to know how it functions. Also, knowing how an appliance works helps you make considered choices. We have listed the functioning of a heat pump water heater in the below steps.

  • A fan placed on the top of the heat pump water heater fans air across a radiator-like grid filled with refrigerant (cool liquid) in a closed tubing system, called an evaporator.
  • Before the hot air raises the temperature of the refrigerant, the refrigerant has a low boiling point. The hot air raises its temperature to convert it into a gas.
  • This gas refrigerant is compressed in a compressor. Compression increases the temperature of the gas, making it hot enough to heat the water in the storage tank.
  • The hot gas then, through a heat exchanger, heats the water in the storage tank. While doing so, the hot gas cools down to take on its former state of liquid refrigerant.
  • The liquid refrigerant then reaches an expansion valve where its pressure is reduced to cool it further.
  • This cooler refrigerant goes back to the evaporator and the cycle continues from step one.
  • The cycle continues until the water reaches the desired temperature.

A LED control panel on the top of the heat pump water heaters allows the users to set the water temperature and choose between multiple modes, such as heat-pump only mode, all-electric mode, and hybrid mode. The last comes as a combination of the two and is often used during high demands for hot water.

In short, a heat pump makes use of electricity to drive the compressor and the fan, which makes it different from traditional water heaters, which use electricity to directly heat the water. It is this aspect that makes heat pump water heaters more cost-effective when compared to traditional water heaters.

Heat pump water heaters consume electricity to provide hot water all day. But the amount of electricity consumed is typically less than a regular electric unit. Additionally, most heat pump water heaters (hybrid water heaters) come with an electric heating element in the water tank that provides back-up hot water during very heavy usage. Nevertheless, air-source heat pumps provide enough hot water to eliminate the need for back-up electric power.

Types of Heat Pump

Air source heat pump water heater

Are you looking for a heat pump water heater that provides hot water all day and night, and you want it to be at a lower cost? The answer is to reach out to Nuetech Solar and buy an air-source heat pump. The air-source water heater uses the air in the atmosphere to heat the water. Electricity is used only to compress the refrigerant to increase the temperature. Further heating does not consume electricity, making a heat pump water heater an economical option.

Selecting the Heat Pump

Being able to select a heat pump that suits your needs is an important part of buying a heat pump. Heat pump water systems may have a higher installation cost than traditional water heaters. However, they have lower operating costs, which can offset the purchase and installation costs. The different models range from built-in water tanks and back-up resistance heating elements.

Size, energy efficiency, and overall cost are among the other things you may want to consider. Nuetech Solar, being the best heat pump company in Bangalore, can help you with choosing and installing the right heat pump based on your needs.

Are heat pumps worth it?

The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” Though the initial investment in a heat pump may seem high, once it is installed and has started functioning, the amount you save on your electricity bills will offset your investment cost soon. You may have to keep changing the coils of your conventional water heater every now and then, whereas your heat pumps have a low maintenance cost. Above all, it will give you the satisfaction of using the simple benefits of nature. Using renewable energy is the way forward, and it is time you made a beginning. Nuetech Solar is happy to assist you with this.

Why heat pumps? - Benefits

  • Renewable energy is the future: With pollution and CO2 emissions on the rise, there is a pressing need to find eco-friendly alternative energy options. Rather than burning fossil fuels to produce heat and, consequently, CO2 emissions, dedicated heat pumps use renewable energy from the environment, like air, ground, and water. They consume up to 70% less primary energy and therefore drastically reduce the pollution resulting from the use of fossil fuels. Heat is a perfect fit here.
  • Energy Efficiency: Heat pump water heaters offer the highest levels of energy efficiency, with the ability to provide 3–4 kW of heat energy for every 1 kW used.
  • Weather Compensation: Weather compensation can detect changes in outdoor ambient conditions, allowing the heat pump to adjust the water temperature accordingly, thus avoiding energy wastage.
  • Low Running Costs: The more energy efficient a heating system is, the cheaper it is to run. Heat pump water heaters offer the cheapest available kW/h rate for hot water heating.
  • Applications: It can be best used in domestic households, hospitals, industries, swimming pool heating, restaurants, etc.

Check out our wide range of services

Domestic Heat Pumps

Nuetech solar air source domestic heat pumps use outdoor air to provide any time hot water.

Commercial Heat Pumps

Nuetech Commercial Heat Pump reduce overheads and offer fresh hot water at low cost.

Swimming Pool Heat Pumps

These heat pumps are energy-efficient and long-lasting than traditional electric water heaters.

Solar Integrated Heat Pumps

Solar integrated system is an energy-efficient way to use the heating thermal panels in winters

High Temperature Heat Pumps

High temperature heat pumps requires less maintenance than other heating systems.