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Technology / Re: Are heat pumps viable in areas of high density housing?
« on: 23/06/2020 00:51:04 »
Ground source heating is fraught with problems, not only of infrastructure but also of diminishing efficiency in times of high demand as the ground freezes around the pipes. Airsource heating is a lot easier to install and maintain: I use a single fan unit of less than one meter square to heat and provide hot water for a family in a 1600 sq ft (160 sq m) building. It works with air temperatures down to about -5 degC and a reversible unit would also provide summer cooling (very important in high density cities). No problem with increasing source impedance - you just blow more air through on a cold day. Wind speed is irrelevant as the fan is rated for zero wind, and any air movement just helps a bit.
The real key however is efficient building design. Mine is massively insulated with a huge hot water tank. I have architect friends with a completely passive house in Maine, where even in mid winter a south-facing glass wall provides all the heat they need to keep their huge concrete slab floor warm. A builder friend in England has made three terraced town houses with passive, heat-exchange and air-source heating that demonstrate how to achieve high density and thermal efficiency.
The real key however is efficient building design. Mine is massively insulated with a huge hot water tank. I have architect friends with a completely passive house in Maine, where even in mid winter a south-facing glass wall provides all the heat they need to keep their huge concrete slab floor warm. A builder friend in England has made three terraced town houses with passive, heat-exchange and air-source heating that demonstrate how to achieve high density and thermal efficiency.
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