Description
Air source heat pumps are very efficient, much higher than electric heating and gas/propane boilers. However, they do have limitations.
If you install it as the main heating source for a swimming pool, you must consider these. So here is the technical bit!
How does the heat pump work?
Air source heat pump, in layman's terms, is to obtain heat from the air. It sucks in air through a device similar to a car radiator, and refrigerant gas passes through it. Under pressure, it forms a liquid that is very good at absorbing heat from the nearby atmosphere.
This superheated liquid is pushed through the heat exchanger and transfers heat energy to your pool water. How well this thing is done is measured by the so-called COP rating, but it will be described in detail later. As you can see, it is not a complicated machine. When it is sized and used correctly, it will greatly save your energy bills. excellent! ! !
What size unit do I need?
In fact, when specifying a heat pump, we will determine all the different factors that suit your application needs in order to obtain the required device size.
When adjusting the size of our heat pump, our list gives the recommended maximum pool size. This is given under ideal conditions, such as 28c ambient air temperature and 70% relative humidity. In most applications, we rarely see this temperature for a long time.
This also assumes that the POOL temperature is 26c. Our experience tells us that the swimming pool temperature is usually higher or even higher than the temperature around 28c.
Therefore, when choosing an air source heat pump for your swimming pool, it is wise to choose at least the next KW rating. This is because the actual amount of additional power used is very small, and the device will have additional capacity to cope with changes in ambient temperature and Humidity, which will keep the device operating well within its capacity, so it will not be subjected to excessive stress, and some of our models actually use less energy than smaller devices for a longer period of time.
If you install it as the main heating source for a swimming pool, you must consider these. So here is the technical bit!
How does the heat pump work?
Air source heat pump, in layman's terms, is to obtain heat from the air. It sucks in air through a device similar to a car radiator, and refrigerant gas passes through it. Under pressure, it forms a liquid that is very good at absorbing heat from the nearby atmosphere.
This superheated liquid is pushed through the heat exchanger and transfers heat energy to your pool water. How well this thing is done is measured by the so-called COP rating, but it will be described in detail later. As you can see, it is not a complicated machine. When it is sized and used correctly, it will greatly save your energy bills. excellent! ! !
What size unit do I need?
In fact, when specifying a heat pump, we will determine all the different factors that suit your application needs in order to obtain the required device size.
When adjusting the size of our heat pump, our list gives the recommended maximum pool size. This is given under ideal conditions, such as 28c ambient air temperature and 70% relative humidity. In most applications, we rarely see this temperature for a long time.
This also assumes that the POOL temperature is 26c. Our experience tells us that the swimming pool temperature is usually higher or even higher than the temperature around 28c.
Therefore, when choosing an air source heat pump for your swimming pool, it is wise to choose at least the next KW rating. This is because the actual amount of additional power used is very small, and the device will have additional capacity to cope with changes in ambient temperature and Humidity, which will keep the device operating well within its capacity, so it will not be subjected to excessive stress, and some of our models actually use less energy than smaller devices for a longer period of time.
A common misunderstanding is that the KW rating is the amount of energy actually used, but the Kw rating of the pump is the potential heating capacity that can be called from the unit to see how much power the unit requires. This is a common misunderstanding.
If you are not sure, please email us, we are happy to advise you, but we need some basic information as described below.
1. Pool volume
Length, width and depth. If it is not a constant depth, take the average of the shallow end and the deep end. The calculation method is simply to multiply the dimensions in that order. For example: 10m x 5m x 1.2m = 60. This will be 60,000 liters or 60m³.
2. Surface area
The surface area of the pool uses the same example as above, but there is no depth. 10m x 5m = 50m². This is important for outdoor swimming pools because when the cover is removed, the surface area, not the volume, will determine the heat lost to the atmosphere.
3. Temperature
The temperature you will use in the pool. The normal range is between 26-28°C, but this is a personal choice. Please note that the air source heat pump (ASHP from now on) will effectively heat up to about 30°C.
4. Swimming season
Season or time of use of the swimming pool. Most domestic swimming pools operate from May to September. The extended season is from April to October, which is the same throughout the year. However, heating operations throughout the year require a specific type of ASHP with a rated temperature of at least -15°C, but some we sell have a rated temperature of -20°C.
5. Daily use
Finally, the number of hours the pool is used and uncovered per day. It is essential that the swimming pool has at least one floating solar cover to retain heat. If you don't stamp it, your energy usage will far exceed the energy that ASHP saves for you.
Once you have all of the above information, we can now begin to understand what the recommended unit should be for the kilowatt rating. If you are changing from an electric heater to an air source heat pump, please do not match the heat pump to the kW rating of the computer room because they are not the same.
Think of the kW rating as the maximum output of the device under very specific environmental conditions (usually 28°C @ 60% humidity). As we all know these conditions are unlikely to happen. No matter how the external temperature changes, the electric heater will consistently apply the set temperature to the water at a constant rate.
For example, if your swimming pool needs 100 kilowatts of energy to keep the temperature at X (the ideal temperature). Then an 18kW heat pump with an input power of 2.51kW will run for 5.6 hours to heat your swimming pool (100/18kW). This means you will consume approximately 14 kilowatts of energy (5.6 hours x 2.51 kilowatts). A 13kW heat pump with an input power of 1.86kW will run for 7.7 hours to heat your swimming pool (100/13kW). This means you will consume approximately 14.3 kilowatts of energy (7.7 hours x 1.86 kilowatts).
Although the energy consumption is almost the same, a larger heat pump can heat the pool nearly 30% faster. This means that you can maximize your COP by heating during the hottest time of the day, rather than running the heat pump for long periods of time when the air temperature may not be the highest. This is why we usually recommend over-specifying your new heat pump, because it will never be too much for your swimming pool, it will only heat up your swimming pool faster.
Why buy from us?
We are a professional manufacturer of air source heat pumps. We have the most professional technical staff and the best unit price.
Air source heat pumps are high-priced commodities, so in the past 3-5 years, we have seen many cheaper heat pumps flood the market. Their functions and performance are usually doubtful, and the company uses this popular market for sales. -Remember, we have been doing this for a long time, so we offer all the best products from the most supported suppliers at the most competitive prices... the first purchase.
For comparison purposes, when making a decision, the best model should have some or all of the following characteristics. List them and briefly explain what they are and why they are needed.
Features of our air source heat pump:
1. Inverter motor technology
This is a system where the device can use 20% to 100% of its maximum output or anywhere in between to maintain the required pool temperature.
This saves energy and makes the device quieter. It also eliminates amplifier spikes found when starting up cheaper devices.
So always look for a completely inverted motor.
2. R32 refrigerant
In 2025, new legislation will come into effect to stop production or restrict certain types of refrigerants. When selecting the unit, check that it has R32, because now this is the standard that must be in units after this time.
In our product series, except for larger commercial equipment, almost all equipment meets the R32 standard.
3. Defrost function
If you need a heat pump to run throughout the year, look for hot gas recirculation.
Even if you plan to use the swimming pool during the extended season, it is worth it.
Unlike some models, there is only one heating tray to prevent the equipment from freezing. When the water is not heated, gas recirculation will prevent freezing. It returns the hot refrigerant to the surroundings of the system, keeping the system frost-free and not wasting any energy.
4. Heat Exchanger
Look for a titanium heat exchanger because it is much stronger than the stainless steel or nickel-plated version. It will be more resistant to poor pool chemistry (such as low pH) and can handle salt chlorination systems.
The latest technology is the twisted tube model, which provides a larger surface area for heat exchange.
5. COP (Coefficient of Performance)
It is time to explain the mysterious COP rating. In short, COP is actually just a measure of how efficiently the heat pump collects heat from the surrounding air. It does this by calculating the kilowatts used for operation and the kilowatts of heat generated.
In countries where the average temperature is about 10-15°C, our device can produce a COP ratio of 5-7. This means that for every 1 kW of energy invested, you can expect to return 5-7 kW of heat from the air. So far, this is more effective than condensing boilers.
Many of the above do not apply to cheaper models, so if you have any questions, please contact us as we can provide expert advice.
