Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 3: Electrically driven heat pumps DG 532 3

BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.

Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 3: Electrically driven heat pumps (DG 532/3) was written by John Holden and Patrick Robinson and published by BRE on 5 December 2014.

This is one in a series of four BRE Digests focusing on renewable energy technologies commonly used in domestic buildings, which complements an earlier series of BRE information papers about the installation of renewable energy technologies. The other technologies covered include:

• Photovoltaics.
• Wood fuels.
• Solar thermal hot water systems.

Electrically-driven heat pumps are devices that may be used to generate heat for domestic hot water (DHW) and space heating. They achieve this by extracting heat from environmental sources such as the air or the ground. The heat is transferred to a refrigerant circuit where compression raises the fluid’s temperature and useful heat is extracted, providing an alternative to conventional gas or oil-fired heating systems.

DG 532/3 describes different types of heat pump system and how they operate. It also discusses installation requirements (including integration with the building’s heating system and the steps that should be taken to ensure their safe and efficient operation) and methods for estimating annual energy performance.

Reference is made to European Standards and certification schemes relevant to heat pump systems to indicate the assurances that system owners and operators should expect. Financial incentives are also outlined.

Its contents are:

• Introduction.
• How heat pumps work.
• Heating system design.
• Building characteristics.
• Evaluation of performance.
• Operating costs.
• Operating incentives.
• Conclusion.
• References.

--BRE Group

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