Frico air curtains now come with heat pumps

Frico has introduced a heat-pump version of its popular Comfortline air curtain. Suited to applications such as retail, business and industry, these air curtains can achieve an energy reduction of up to 70%, in addition to energy saved by reducing heat loss across a doorway. Comfortline Competence HP is a fully packaged heat-pump air curtain that can be located vertically, integrated with the top of the air-curtain column or blowing across the doorway to present a more powerful air curtain. The heat-pump element can also be sited remotely, with an umbilical connection to the air curtain. Integrated heat pumps are air-to-water. Remotely sited options can use a variety of source, including the ground. The control system enables the air curtain to run on full output if the door is open and in a low-heat mode if the door is closed. This approach protects the heat-pump compressor from constant start-ups, and operating lag is avoided. A COP of 3.45 delivers 15 kW of heat from an electrical input of 4.5 kW, which is appropriate for units 1.5 to 2 m wide for doors up to 3 m high. Heating can be supplemented by an additional water or electric heater in the air curtain.