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Introduction of air source and ground source heat pump
2011-11-6 (1) Air Source Heat Pump(ASHP).An Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) functions by taking the heat from the outside air and moving it indoors rather than using a fuel to warm up the air indoors. Even at low temperatures there is enough ambient heat in the outside air to allow the heat pump to efficiently perform this transfer.There are ASHPs that function at extremely low temperatures but for the most part they operate most effectively down to -7°C. In regions where the temperature is below -7°C. In extended periods the secondary heating system will be providing the majority of the heating, thus reducing or eliminating the efficiencies gained by installing an ASHP.An air source heat pump is less efficient at cold temperatures. An ASHP is actually the most effective for heating in a mild climate. If the temperature drops a lot in the winter then in most cases a backup system has to work.The efficiency of an ASHP is directly dependant on the outside temperature. When selecting an ASHP model, ensure it is optimal for your climate region.
In areas requiring mechanized cooling as well as heating, it's important to find the size of heat pump that will maximize both heating and cooling efficiencies. Selecting an ASHP large enough to provide the home's entire heating requirement could function poorly for cooling, thus reducing any potential annual savings. Discuss the various options with your contractor.
(2) Ground Source Heat Pump(GSHP).A ground source heat pump (GSHP) functions much like an ASHP, but instead of exchanging the heat from the outside air it uses a fluid, pumped down through piping into the ground, to recover or reject the heat. Using the ground as the heat source is beneficial because, unlike the air, the temperature is very constant throughout the year, typically in the range of 7°C to 13°C.
GSHPs can provide very high efficiencies in optimal situations. Unfortunately, it requires a much higher up-front cost to install piping in the ground. Installation of a GSHP is not ideal for all situations, factors like the soil conditions and the balancing of heating and cooling requirements (close to equal amounts of cool and heating throughout the year) must be considered.A qualified heat pump designer will be able to discuss this with you and make recommendations on the suitability of your location. When considering a GSHP it is important that the contractor be certified to perform the design and installation.
