This ecological solution is directly in line with current environmental concerns. If at its beginnings, it could present some negative points which may put off some, it has evolved a lot. The CAP today offers excellent performance and functionality. We will detail them in this article.
The CAP is an ecological heating solution and economical which attracts more and more households. It works with renewable and free energy, which makes it very attractive. This heating method is ideal as a replacement for an aging boiler if you want to achieve significant energy savings.
It is made up of two units. The first is placed outside the accommodation. It draws the calories present in the air (water or earth, depending on the model). They are transmitted to the refrigerant which is compressed, then diffused through various transmitters (radiators, underfloor heating, etc.) thanks to the interior module. This Operating mode is an undeniable asset that makes this solution very efficient for heating the house.
Current heat pumps offer very good performance. Their yields are impressive and their efficiency, even in cold weather, is no longer to be proven on recent models.
The SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) of a heat pump determines its efficiency. It gives the average performance of the appliance over a complete heating season. It represents the number of kWh of energy produced for 1 kWh of energy consumed. It is calculated with the leaving water temperature of the heat pump. For example, for a leaving water temperature of 55 ° C, the SCOP is 3.3.
Today, for 1 kWh, the equipment generally restores 4.4. In this case, the SCOP is 4.4. The higher it is, the more efficient the heat pump and the less “chargeable” energy it consumes.
Until a few years ago, the heat pump was not recommended in cold regions. Its performance was not guaranteed in the event of low outside temperatures. Current models retain their performance even when temperatures drop. Depending on the model, they can maintain perfect efficiency even in -25 ° C outdoors. However, it is imperative to properly size the model according to the temperatures in your region.
However, it is less than that of older heat pumps. There are ultra-quiet versions on the market which feature even lower sound power. The noise emitted by heat pumps is similar to that of an indoor household appliance.
In addition to heating, most of the equipment produces domestic hot water for the home. This can be done using a balloon integrated directly into the heat pump or by installing a water heater in addition to the device.
There freshmen housing is also a feature available on a large number of recent models. They are called “reversible” air/water or air/air heat pumps. The air/air heat pumps do not work with a hydraulic circuit and work as air conditioning. These collect the heat present in the home and reject it to the outside.
Reversible air/water heaters can only cool the home if it is equipped with a heated floor. This mechanism allows the temperature of the housing to be reduced by a few degrees. More and more models include this option. Today, individuals want their heating system to be multifunctional. This is what the heat pump market is heading towards.
There are also hybrid heat pumps. These integrate another heating system, such as a gas condensing boiler, for example. This system provides optimal comfort all year round. It is a heating solution that has the advantage of being intelligent. She chooses to operate one device or the other, or both at the same time. The objective is to save money at all times and optimize comfort in the home.
In addition, in order to preserve the environment, many heat pumps are coupled with other renewable energies. They can in particular be associated with solar panels to produce clean electricity. In this specific case, your heating system, therefore, works 100% on renewable energies.
Heat pumps are generally made up of 2 units. They, therefore, represent a certain size to be taken into account when it is desired to acquire them. However, in recent years, the models offered have been made more and more compact. The objective is to make the installation of heat pumps easier, even in smaller homes.
In addition, the indoor units of heat pumps have an increasingly studied and aesthetic design. This is particularly the case for air/air heat pumps (or reversible air conditioning). The interior modules of these models are sometimes offered in several colors. They also take new forms to adapt to the interior decoration of the home.
There are nowadays covers for heat pumps. These are boxes in different materials and colors used to embellish the outdoor units of the heat pump. Everything is done to make the purchase of a heat pump more attractive.
The Refrigerants Used in the operation of these solutions are also in the process of change. They are gradually improved and transformed to be more respectful of the environment.
Until then, it was the R410A fluid that was used the most in heat pumps. However, its consequences on the environment being questionable, it is gradually replaced by R32. The latter is 10% more efficient than the R410A and more respectful of the environment. It is used more and more in heating devices. It is also more easily recyclable than other fluids.
The R290 fluid is also gradually arriving in heat pumps. This solution has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) even lower than that of R32. It seems to be becoming a very good environmentally friendly alternative to the usual refrigerants.
The F-GAS regulations that exist today aim to reduce fluorinated greenhouse gases. Fluids belonging to the HCFC (hydro-chlorofluorocarbon) categories are now prohibited. CFC fluids (chlorofluorocarbons) are still authorized but tend to be eradicated from the market in the years to come.----