Prof. Hewitt (University of Ulster)

Rationale

Present electric heat pumps perform well below laboratory levels in real applications and can be improved by cycle modifications and advanced control.

Challenge

To design robust and flexible control algorithms and reliable but efficient hardware based on improved cycles.

Objectives/Deliverables

Demonstrate an air to water heat pump in the field that is consumer friendly and delivers a seasonal COP > 3.0.

Carbon reduction

A heat pump with a seasonal COP of 3.0 will save 15% of carbon emissions over a 90% efficient gas boiler when taking into account the CO2 emission differences between electricity from the network and natural gas combustion. With a 2 million/year boiler market in the UK and each 1% of the market adopting heat pumps leads to a saving of nearly 10,000 tonnes of CO2.