Daikin Altherma HT Heat Pump wins Self-Build Product Innovation Award

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The Daikin Altherma high temperature air source heat pump has won the ‘Heating, Plumbing, Ventilation and Building Services’ category of the 2010 Self-Build Product Innovation Awards 2010. These awards recognise innovation with in the UK building industry, showcasing the very best offerings in the UK market and further reflect the Daikin Altherma HT’s unique capabilities.

The Daikin Altherma high temperature air source heat pump was chosen by the judges as the most innovative building services product to meet the demands of today’s consumer and constantly evolving building regulations. This’ industry first’ system offers a low carbon, low energy solution to supplying a home’s total heating and hot water requirements, even in the case of harder to heat properties.

The Altherma system delivers seasonal efficiencies of more than 300%, compared to a typically 93% efficient condensing boiler. It can therefore, deliver a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 50% compared to traditional gas, oil and solid fuel boiler systems plus running costs savings of up to 25% compared to an A-rated gas boiler and up to 45% compared to a G-rated gas boiler.

Until recently, a major barrier to heat pumps has been the low flow temperature (typically maximum 50oC) that they can deliver without the provision of additional heat input from non-renewable technology, such as additional gas or electric heating. Although this is not a problem for new build houses and apartments, in which water flow temperatures can be designed into the overall heating system specification, it can pose a problem for the refurbishment of older harder to heat properties with large heat loss potential.

The Altherma HT system however, provides a direct alternative to boiler replacement and can fully support existing radiator systems, providing a highly efficient and versatile high temperature solution with guaranteed flow temperatures of up to 80°C, without the need for non-renewable back up heating. High flow temperatures are achieved by virtue of a specially designed cascading heat pump configuration. The system consists of an outdoor heat pump (first stage) and indoor unit hydrobox (second stage heat pump) in which upgraded free heat from the air is transferred to the heating and hot water system. The hot water cylinder is installed next to or mounted neatly on top of the indoor unit.

The system comes as a complete package, which includes all main hydraulics components such as hot water recirculation pumps and control valves and incorporates either a 200 or 260 litre hot water cylinder capable of delivering up to 500 litres equivalent of hot water for bathing or showering.

This solution opens up the there opportunity for significant expansion in the use of heat pump technology for heating and hot water, particularly in older properties. The Daikin Altherma HT system can be directly installed to replace an older traditional type boiler system in a more simple, sustainable and cost efficient way. The Daikin Altherma HT heat pump was among the winning products on display at the National Home Building & Renovating Show at the NEC, Birmingham from 18th – 21st March.

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