CO2 heat pumps selected for Dublin housing development
Some 130 heat pumps using carbon dioxide as the refrigerant are being installed on a housing development in Dublin to provide heating and hot water for social-housing apartments. The Sanyo ECO units are being installed at the Respond! housing project. The project also includes two Sanyo gas-powered heat-pump systems, electric VRF and air-processing fresh-air heat-recovery units.
The ECO CO2 heat pumps can deliver hot water at up to 65°C without the support of an electric immersion heater.
The inverter-controlled systems have capacities from 4.5 to 45 kW and comprise an outdoor unit containing the 2-stage rotary compressor and CO2 refrigerant circuit connected by a water loop to a thermal store, which can be from another supplier. The store is sized according to system capacity and holds water at 65°C.
The solution conforms with the requirement of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for renewable energy of greater than 10 kWh/m2/year
The installer was Crystal Air, with Keaveny Engineering Services as consultant.
Domnick Ward of Crystal Air said, ‘It is an outstanding project and makes full use of the exceptional capabilities and performance of the ECO CO2 system. I have no doubt that with energy prices continuing to rise for the foreseeable future, the product could become a mainstream solution.’
Brendan Keaveny of Keaveny Engineering Services said, ‘Energy efficiency was a key aspect of the building specification. Selection of the Sanyo solution enabled us not only to meet the requirements but exceed them and ensure a low-cost high-quality living environment for residents.
