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heat pump/solar combination

  • 14-11-2008 9:04pm
    #1
    baldieman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 174 ✭✭


    Has anyone ever considered the possibility of a a solar heating system to boost the COP of a ground source heat pump. When digging out and installing the external pipe work, install additional pipe work just below the heat pump pipe work. These pipes are connected directly to an array of solar thermal panels suitably sized. Depending on how much of the energy from the solar panels can be recovered, it should reduce the cost of running the heat pump, or even give temperature high enough for standard rads?


Comments

  • #2
    holdfast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,152 ✭✭✭holdfast


    Firstly heat pump and rads do not work. Heat pump max temp around 40 degs and the temp required for rads 70 degs at least. I would say the solar would be of little benefit because of the distance required in pipe work would be too large and when you want to use the heat pump in the winter and this is when your solar panel is least effective. If you are using solar make certain it is sized to your requirements or the payback will be too great. There are a lot of guys trying to sell mad combinations out there get your self a good energy engineer before you pay big money and take everything you hear from a sales reps with a pinch of salt. They were probably selling double glazing a couple of years a go. Any green technology requires a detail design to ensure a proper payback.

    p.s I have solar and geothermal


  • #3
    baldieman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 174 ✭✭baldieman


    hello holdfast,
    Perhaps my post is'nt very clear.
    My idea is to inject/pump the heat from the solar thermal panels directly into the ground exactly where the heat pump collector is located underground.
    That should allow the heat pump to recover higher temperatures and improve the COP or reduce the electric demand on the heat pump.


  • #4
    holdfast
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,152 ✭✭✭holdfast


    you would really have to see a major improvement in cop when you will spending extra on the solar to make up for this fact. the figures would really have to be looked and matched to the correct heat distribution system after the lift.


    still cant get away from the fact the heat is required in the winter and i would think irish soil conditions would be limited in the capacity to store heat above the existing ground temp ???? too much water movement i would think. they are used in areas of glarcier till

    best of luck with it


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