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New Improved Heat Pump
Performance
Pay attention to recent
innovations in heat pumps. They are improving their performance,
relatively to older models.
Back-up burners
Modern air heat pumps may be equipped with back up burners –
instead of electric resistance heaters - to supplement the heat
pump in situations of very cold temperatures.
These burners
are an economical and good solution to the limitations of air
heat pump during cold weather, since they reduce the use of
electricity.
The combustion fuel used with
back-up burners is usually propane or natural gas.
This type of system can be very advantageous comparatively to
fuel-fired furnaces and common heat pumps.
Desuperheaters
Many high-efficiency ground heat pump have a
desuperheater:
a device that recovers waste heat (from the heat pump's cooling
mode) in order to use it to heat water. A desuperheater-equipped
pump heats water 2 to 3 times more efficiently than common
electric water heaters.
Two speed compressors
Modern two-speed
compressors heat pumps do not need to
operate at full capacity – they just have to work close to the capacity
that is needed at particular situations – which is an important
energy saving element and contributes to a longer life of the
compressor. Besides, these systems are particularly suitable to
zone control systems – systems based on automatic dampers in
order to achieve different temperatures in different rooms.
Scroll compressors
Recent advances in heat pump technology includes
scroll compressors
- two spiral-shaped scrolls - instead of common piston
compressors. Scroll compressors make the engine to run quieter, to have a
longer lifetime and to provide higher temperatures when in the
heating mode: 10°–15°F more (5°–8°C).
Variable-speed fan motors
Modern heat pumps may be equipped with
dual-speed motors
and
variable-speed
outdoor fans and blowers (indoor fans).
These fans may be controlled in order to achieve electrical
savings.
See
also:
Basics of Heat Pumps Systems
Heat Pumps and water
heating.
Heat Pumps vs
Furnaces and Air-Conditioning
Ground heat pump systems
Air source
systems
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