Inverter-Driven R290 Systems Delivering Up to 85°C for UK Retrofit Applications
Commercial Boiler Replacement with High-Temperature Heat Pumps: No Building Down Time
Most heating systems have been designed for 70 or 80°C flow temperatures from a gas boilers.
Most heat pumps are not able to heat water to this temperature and so, at least some and sometimes all of the existing heating infastrcucture (Pipework and emitters) needs to be replaced. Replacing this infastructre can be costly and also often requires the building to be vacated while these works take place.
Building owners know that they need to decarbonise:
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) legisilation requirements are expected to get tighter. Leaving buildings heating systems as is, could result in buidings becoming stranded assets (unable to be used legally).
Being relaint on fossil fuels makes their business vulnerable to political unrest - what happens if the gas gets turned off?
Most heat pumps are not able to heat water to this temperature and so, at least some and sometimes all of the existing heating infastrcucture (Pipework and emitters) needs to be replaced. Replacing this infastructre can be costly and also often requires the building to be vacated while these works take place.
Building owners know that they need to decarbonise:
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) legisilation requirements are expected to get tighter. Leaving buildings heating systems as is, could result in buidings becoming stranded assets (unable to be used legally).
Being relaint on fossil fuels makes their business vulnerable to political unrest - what happens if the gas gets turned off?
Doing nothing now is a threat to businesses, so how do we move to low carbon heating without shutting buildings down?
Our high-temperature heat pump range, featuring R290 natural refrigerant technology from Midea and Euroklimat, delivers flow temperatures up to 85°C. That means you can connect directly to existing radiator circuits, fan coil units and domestic hot water systems without replacing the emitter network. The boiler comes out, the heat pump goes in!
The best efficenicies are achieved with low flow temepratures and so the intent should always be to get to a point where the heat pumps flow temperature can be turned down.
Our high temperature solutions allow you to replace your boilers and switch off the gas supply today..........
Our high-temperature heat pump range, featuring R290 natural refrigerant technology from Midea and Euroklimat, delivers flow temperatures up to 85°C. That means you can connect directly to existing radiator circuits, fan coil units and domestic hot water systems without replacing the emitter network. The boiler comes out, the heat pump goes in!
The best efficenicies are achieved with low flow temepratures and so the intent should always be to get to a point where the heat pumps flow temperature can be turned down.
Our high temperature solutions allow you to replace your boilers and switch off the gas supply today..........
Retrofit expertise
Turn Key Retro-fit Solutions For Estate Owners
Turn-key Solutions For Building Estate Owners
“We work closely with Evonic, who specialise in the development of bespoke decentralised energy solutions from concept design all the way through to operation and maintenance, together with financial modelling and funded solutions”.
If you are the owner/operator of a large estate of buildings and require finacial modelling or funded solutions, please click the "Discuss a Project Tab" and type "Evonic Solutions" in the project brief description box.
If you are the owner/operator of a large estate of buildings and require finacial modelling or funded solutions, please click the "Discuss a Project Tab" and type "Evonic Solutions" in the project brief description box.
Not All Heat Pumps Are Created Equal
The commercial heat pump market is flooded with units that deliver impressive-sounding COPs at low flow temperatures. But in a UK retrofit scenario, where existing radiators need 70°C or above to heat the building, many of those units simply cannot cope. At ICG, we only offer inverter-driven equipment because inverter technology delivers higher real-world efficiencies across the full range of UK operating conditions, not just at a single lab-tested design point.
Hydraulic Integration Matters
A heat pump is not a boiler with a different energy source. It behaves differently. Hydraulic conguration and system control will have a biggert impact on running costs and efficiency than anything. We work with consultants and contractors to identify the best hydraulic and controls configuration for your project.
The R290 Advantage for Retrofit
R290 (propane) is a natural refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of just 0.02, compared to 675 for R32 or over 2,000 for the older R410A systems still being installed by some suppliers. For commercial retrofit projects, R290 is not just the sustainable choice; it is the practical one. R290 heat pumps achieve higher COPs at elevated flow temperatures, achieving the best efficiencies possible while working with existing pipe-work.
Retrofit methodology
Our Commercial Heat Pump Retro-fit Process
Step 1
Run Your Gas Boiler At A Lower Temperature This Winter
Heat pumps work most efficiently when producing water at low temperature. Your heat emmiters will have been installed expecting a high temperature heat source, sounds like the two are not compatitable?
Not necessarily......
Some of your heating system emmitters will have accidentally been oversized. Some parts of the building have probably been refirbished with windows being changed and insulation values being improved.
This winter, why not turn down your gas boiler's flow temperature down for a few weeks?
By doing this, you can simulate what would happen if you were to connect a low temperature heat pump to the heating system.
The rooms which take longest to warm up, or don't get to temperature are the rooms which will need new heat emmiters.
Not necessarily......
Some of your heating system emmitters will have accidentally been oversized. Some parts of the building have probably been refirbished with windows being changed and insulation values being improved.
This winter, why not turn down your gas boiler's flow temperature down for a few weeks?
By doing this, you can simulate what would happen if you were to connect a low temperature heat pump to the heating system.
The rooms which take longest to warm up, or don't get to temperature are the rooms which will need new heat emmiters.
Step 2
Do A Heat Loss Calculation To Identify The True Building Heat Load & Check That You Have a Big Enough Power Supply
Your gas boiler is probably bigger than it needs to be, conventionally heating systems have not been accurately sized - often boilers are found to be up to 50% larger then the building heat load.
The cost per KW of capacity with a heat pump is much greater than the cost of a KW of gas boiler capacity and so most buildings have boilers much bigger than what is required.
It is not necessary to do a room by room heat loss, but advisable to calculate a full building heat load, that way you can select a heat pump which matches the heat requirement rather than matching the capacity of the existing "oversized" boilers.
Once we know the capacity of the heat pump, we can then check if you have sufficenct power to be able to run them.
If there is sufficent power, you can move in to stage 3.
If not, you will need to consider the cost of a appropirately sized power supply.
The cost per KW of capacity with a heat pump is much greater than the cost of a KW of gas boiler capacity and so most buildings have boilers much bigger than what is required.
It is not necessary to do a room by room heat loss, but advisable to calculate a full building heat load, that way you can select a heat pump which matches the heat requirement rather than matching the capacity of the existing "oversized" boilers.
Once we know the capacity of the heat pump, we can then check if you have sufficenct power to be able to run them.
If there is sufficent power, you can move in to stage 3.
If not, you will need to consider the cost of a appropirately sized power supply.
Step 3
Install High Temperature Heat Pumps & Decommission Your Gas Boilers
If your main driver is to decarbonise, you don't need to do the whole project in one go. Change your gas boilers for R290 high temperature heat pumps which can work with your existing infastructure.
You now have a fully electric heating system. You can remove your gas boilers and you can also cap off the gas and say good-bye to the gas standing charge..........
You now have a fully electric heating system. You can remove your gas boilers and you can also cap off the gas and say good-bye to the gas standing charge..........
Step 4
Change The Heat Emmiters Which Need To Be Changed As Part Of Your Normal Refirshment Works
Running heat pumps at high flow temperatures uses much more energy than running them at low temperatures and so your intend should always be to get to a point where you can turn your heat pump flow temperature down.
Most commercial buildings are routinely refirbished and so why not update your heat emmiters as part of redecoration?
Most commercial buildings are routinely refirbished and so why not update your heat emmiters as part of redecoration?
Step 5
Turn Down The Heat Pump Flow Temperature
Once you have worked your way through the building repalcing heat emmitters, the sytstem can then be turned down to work at low flow temepratures where you will benefot from the greatest carbon savings and lowest running costs.
Testimonials
Seamless Commercial Integration
“Andy has been very helpful, Andy attended site to carry out some pre-commissioning checks, these checks highlighted some minor issues with our install giving us time to rectify before the commissioning engineer’s attendance and subsequently avoided any potential aborted visit costs."
Ross Mcintosh, T Clarke
Take the Next Step
Ready to Discuss Your Project?
Contact our engineering team to request a technical consultation, a compliance pack or a system design review.
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