© RACA Journal www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 25
Feature
HEAT PUMPS HEAD THE MULTI-PURPOSE INNOVATION RACE
By Eamonn Ryan
The Chinese have a saying , “ May you live in interesting times ”. This started as a curse , as there was great comfort and peace in the status quo . But in the age of evolving heat pump technology , this is in fact a blessing .
Industry 4.0 is driving significant transformation across most sectors , with a particular focus on data connectivity and intelligent automation . In the HVAC space , heat pump technology , along with automatic fault detection and diagnostics , is leading the sprint .
Modern control systems can detect your presence in a room , regulate indoor air quality by adjusting ventilation , identify performance issues in HVAC systems ( often before they ' re noticeable ), and even trigger service requests when necessary . Cloud-based monitoring systems can track sump pump cycle times to anticipate failures and alert users about conditions that could promote mould growth in areas like crawlspaces or attics . Coupled with electronic expansion valves , these technologies are enabling the creation of advanced multi-source heat pumps capable of extracting renewable thermal energy from outdoor air or waterbased systems like ground-source or district energy loops .
The need for greater resilience and reliability , particularly in air-source heat pumps , is a primary factor . Improvements are essential to tackle efficiency and capacity losses that occur during extreme weather events , which have become more frequent and intense . These upgrades are crucial to safeguarding the electrical grid and ensuring occupant comfort and safety . Another challenge is the existence of heat pumps that are less repairable , making it harder to service them cost-effectively , leading to replacement rather than repair when failure occurs .
New technologies are being developed to lower the initial costs of heat pump systems , including innovative earth-coupling methods , ambient temperature loops and thermal storage batteries . The coming decade promises to bring unprecedented
advancements in both heat pump technology and its applications . PROS AND CONS
Grant Laidlaw , owner of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ) lists the advantages and disadvantages of heat pumps : Advantages :
• Versatile : Smaller units offer heating and cooling and can heat water and air
• Environmentally-friendly : With no open flames or fumes , these risks don ’ t exist with an electric heat pump , making it one of the safest types of HVAC equipment . The lack of direct fossil fuel emissions also make heat pumps more eco-friendly
• Energy efficient : Even the most advanced furnace type systems or element-based systems can never be more than 100 % efficient ,
Grant Laidlaw , owner of Air- Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy ( ACRA ).
whereas heat pumps boast an excess of 300 % efficiency
• Solar power : Heat pumps pair well with solar panels – if you have solar panels or are thinking of installing them , know that they are compatible with electric heat pumps ( as seen in the final segment of this feature )
• Better humidity control and air quality
Disadvantages :
• Reduced efficiency in cold weather : Effectively extracting thermal energy from outdoor air becomes increasingly difficult as the temperature drops
• The need to defrost : Sub-freezing temperatures cause ice to form on the outdoor heat pump unit . This forces the system to enter defrost mode , melting the ice so it can continue operating
• More noise : Longer run cycles also mean the fan and compressor are on more often in cold weather , which increases operating noise
© RACA Journal www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 25