TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED
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| Ecodan is an air source heat pump
and the technology inside it is very similar to a domestic fridge. It
basically transfers heat from one place to another - the back of a fridge
is warm because it is removing heat from inside the storage space to the
room. A heat pump removes warmth from the air outside and transfers it
inside the home to heat radiators or water. The advanced heating
technology used in heat pumps make them ideal for use in the UK’s
ambient temperatures and hence perfect for the domestic market. The main
components in the heat pump are the compressor, the expansion valve and
two heat exchangers (an evaporator and a condenser). |
1 Refrigerant in the evaporator is colder than the heat source. This causes the heat to move from the heat source (in this case the outside air) to the refrigerant, which then evaporates.
2 This vapour moves to the compressor and reaches a higher temperature and pressure.
3 The hot vapour now enters the condenser and gives off heat as it condenses.
4 The refrigerant then moves to the expansion valve; drops in temperature and pressure; and then returns to the evaporator. |
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What makes Ecodan unique?
At the heart of Ecodan is a modern, inverter-driven heat pump compressor which converts free energy from the
air and upgrades it to higher temperatures suitable for heating. The inverter control regulates the
system so that heat output modulates to match the exact capacity required, meaning the boiler will only consume the exact energy needed at any given time and thus increase efficiency further. |