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The The Net Zero Strategy is under way, meaning a large number of older heating and cooling units are currently being replaced with modern heat pump solutions with lower climate impact. However, before a unit is replaced there is an important aspect to consider – the available space for a new heat pump, or a chiller for that matter.
The Net Zero Strategy sets out how the UK will deliver on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This is a monumental task – not least for the building sector. The renovation of public and private buildings has been singled out as a key initiative to drive energy efficiency in the sector, and it will be essential to deliver on the objectives. The Heat and Buildings Strategy, published and communicated by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in 2021, aims to set out the immediate actions and long-term signals required to reduce emissions from buildings to near zero (between 0 and 2 MtCO2e) by 2050. This presents a challenge for the building sector in general, including the industry of heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC).
One of the three focus areas identified for vast improvements is the decarbonization of heating and cooling in buildings. In order to lower the related emissions, the demand for heat pump solutions to replace for example old-style boilers has risen sharply. Using heat pumps for heating and cooling applications have a number of advantages, mentioned in earlier blog posts by our experts at Swegon. In this blog we will address the importance of the unit dimensions verses the space available, and how size really does matter.
Modern, efficient and high-yield units are often larger in size than the older units they are replacing. This is due to the fact, that to achieve the necessary effect, a large heat exchanger surface is needed. Therefore, any planned replacement of a unit will require the space to be measured, ensuring it is large enough to meet size requirements.
In order for the service engineers to undertake any maintenance jobs properly, whether it is an ordinary scheduled service or when emergency maintenance is needed, they will require clearance space around the units.
Further, air source units may operate at a lower efficiency than optimal if it is located in a space that is too tiny. The space dedicated to the unit on site should be large enough to optimize efficiency and to avoid problems during operation.
If the space intended for the unit is too small, there is no easy fix. It is seldom feasible to enlarge the space in an already built building. But, depending on the setup and the application, it might be solvable by for example installing two smaller units working in tandem instead of a single large one, this is doable thanks to the advanced Bluethink control and System Solutions. We are happy to help explore possible alternatives.
There is also a special case where space is critical, and that is when a unit is installed uses a flammable refrigerant – for example R290, based on propane. R290 has a number of advantages, the most prominent is an extremely low Global Warming P otential (GWP). However, the space regulations for units using propane are stricter than for other types of units that uses non-flammable refrigerants. There are mandatory safety zones to consider, for example distances to doors and electrical equipment.
If you need to replace an older unit, or address a new project, Swegon’s team are here to help. We can provide expertise and help address the specific circumstances of your new installation. We can together carefully consider the relevant options before picking a solution, we are here to help you avoid problems along the way. One last comment, although the route to Net Zero is mainly associated with heat pumps, the mentioned aspects also apply to units for cooling. We are experts in that too, contact us and see our range of products here.
