Feature
HEAT PUMPS – MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS TAKE THE FUTURE INTO ACCOUNT
Compiled by Benjamin Brits
The ever-pressing search for efficiency continues as all role players in the built environment seek ways to lower operational costs and reduce carbon footprints , and more directly – reduce energy consumption .
Daikin
The South African National Standard ( SANS ) 10400 commonly referred to as the National Building Regulations , implemented a revision of the minimum energy performance standards ( MEPS ) required for buildings 10 years ago now ( in 2011 ) in part XA , and is a mandatory standard series .
SANS 10400-XA was introduced as an instrument for government to regulate energy use and encourage energy efficiency in buildings . For this purpose , the government established a set of requirements for the retrofitting of existing buildings and for the design of new buildings . SANS 204 : Energy efficiency in buildings is also included where this standard provides the general requirements around energy efficiency according to the revised SANS 10400 .
An example of the most common heat pump used for domestic or small office applications . As noted , it looks similar to the condensing unit of a split AC .
Today these standards guide not only the engineers who need to address efficiency , overall reduction of a buildings heat gain goes further back to building design and orientation , selection of performance construction materials and energy savings features such as shading , double glazing , insulation , reflective paints and lighting solutions . The combination of all elements working together is more important than ever , but the challenge remains that a buildings conditioning continues to account for the most significant portion of energy consumption and peak demand .
Geographical location has also always played a significant part in the decisions around implementing the correct HVAC system and components , but as climate change progresses and dramatically affects what designers have always deemed the “ particular normal conditions per area ”, with these varying effects seen around the globe in recent months , one has to consider the ‘ what if ’ scenarios . What if we have a total changeover of conditions ? What if South Africa becomes a much cooler region where we have always predominantly needed cooling – what would the impact be on the systems that are installed , or how would such change affect energy supply-stress ? Would we or the rest of the world , be equipped to handle that type of event-shock ?
Although perhaps a worst-case scenario , it may lead to a different thought process when deciding what the best design would be for a future proof environment where there may be several unknowns .
A versatile piece of equipment , being the heat pump , has been receiving a lot of attention around the world for several years now where they have been used in so many applications and industries from domestic solutions to large industrial applications , from stand alone to incorporation into systems using heat recovery . Incorrectly , the heat pump is often assumed only a device to reduce hot water generation costs .
Heat pumps come in a lot of variations and may include inverter technology or not , use of a variety of refrigerant types ,
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RACA Journal I October 2021 www . hvacronline . co . za