How a heat pump works

Everyone's talking about heat pumps, but how do they actually work?

While discussions at the bar once perhaps revolved around the local soccer team or the latest baseball results, the topic of conversation has drastically changed recently. A secure energy supply and a desire for greater independence from expensive heating bills are coming increasingly into focus. Heat pumps from TOSHIBA can play a big role in this.

ESTIA heat pumps from TOSHIBA

State-of-the-art TOSHIBA heat pumps ensure a comfortable indoor climate and are also economical in terms of their energy consumption.

All ESTIA heat pumps operate on the same principle. Energy is generated from the surrounding air and used to heat water. With air-to-water heat pumps, also known as split systems, the system comprises air-source heat pumps, which serve as the outdoor unit and generate and convert energy, and an indoor unit, which forwards the generated heat to the heating circuit. Both are linked by means of a closed circuit. The refrigerant circulating in this circuit has a boiling point way below -20°C and, unlike water, cannot therefore freeze.

100%
energy
from the air

Heat exchange using ESTIA

Like inverted fridge

Heat pumps use natural heat sources such as air, groundwater, or soil. Since they use heat from the surroundings which already exists, they are some of the most environmentally friendly and most effective methods of heating – only a small amount of power is needed to drive the pump. They therefore help protect the environment and significantly reduce costs for their owners. Whether it would be appropriate or possible to install a heat pump depends primarily on the location, the ground conditions, and the building construction.

Heat pumps can be thought of as like an inverted refrigerator: In a refrigerator, a liquid coolant circulates that becomes gaseous due to the heat of the air inside the fridge. As a result, the surroundings are cooled and the heat is drawn out of the refrigerator.

In the case of a heat pump, heat is conversely drawn out of the surroundings and emitted to the heating system, and subsequently to the rooms to be heated.

ESTIA air-to-water heat pump

The ESTIA air-to-water heat pump recovers energy from the air and transfers it to the heating system. This job is carried out by an environmentally friendly refrigerant and an efficient compressor. The heat generated during this process is transferred to the water pipe system via a heat exchanger. The domestic hot water and heating water are thus heated to the required temperature. This energy-saving system works efficiently down to frosty outdoor temperatures of -25°C.

To the heating load calculator

Heating load calculator:
What heating load (kW) would I like to cover?

The refrigerant circulating around the system transfers and transports the heat.
In the evaporator (outdoor unit), the liquid refrigerant changes its state, and stores the energy absorbed in so doing.
The compressor brings the refrigerant to a high pressure and temperature level.
The refrigerant is now very hot; it flows to the condenser (indoor unit) which is a heat exchanger in which the heat recovered from the surroundings is transferred to the water.
After cooling, the refrigerant returns to the liquid state and can once again absorb heat from the surroundings due to the pressure and temperature reduction caused by the expansion valve. And so the
cycle begins again.

Recovery

Heat from the surroundings is recovered by drawing in outdoor air or liquid circulating through the soil or groundwater.

Utilization

The heat pump contains an additional circuit in which a circulating refrigerant absorbs energy from the surroundings. The refrigerant is then is evaporated by the heat exchange with the first circuit in a component known as the evaporator. The refrigerant which is now in gaseous form then enters the compressor where it is compressed and further heated. Finally, the pressurized refrigerant is condensed in the condenser and emits its heat.

Heating

The recovered heat can now be used in a heated building. Water is usually used as a heating medium in this process. This can now be forwarded directly to a distributor system, such as radiators or panel heating systems, or to a hot water tank.

100% energy from the air

On average, the air-to-water heat pump heats with energy from the air and electrical energy at a ratio of 4:1. This means that 1 kWh electricity yields on average 4 kWh heating capacity. It is a space-saving, efficient, and sustainable system compared to conventional heating systems.

Consulting

Air-to-water heat pumps

Do you still have questions about our air-to-water heat pumps? Don't worry, you're not the only one. You may well find the answers in our FAQs. Contact our trusted sales partners near you and they will be in touch as soon as possible.

Find a specialist partner

Consulting

Cooling and heating solutions from TOSHIBA

Heat pump – questions and answers

Does the heat pump also work in sub-zero temperatures?

Although the efficiency of the system decreases at very low outside temperatures, heat pumps are still able to generate heat even at outside temperatures of -25°C.

How does a heat pump work?

The heat pump uses the refrigerant to extract energy from the outside air and transfer it to a higher temperature that can be used for your heating.

Why is an air-water heat pump the best investment for the future?

An air-water heat pump combines the advantages of low acquisition costs with the lowest operating costs and thus efficiently uses renewable energy.

What can an air-water heat pump be used for?

A heat pump can be used in a variety of ways for heating and cooling, or for hot water preparation in new buildings or renovations with radiators, underfloor heating, wall heating, and for supporting pool heating.

Is a TOSHIBA heat pump eligible for funding?

TOSHIBA heat pumps have all the necessary certificates and requirements to be eligible for subsidies. However, subsidies depend on the state, city, and local electricity provider. A list of possible subsidies can be found at www.waermepumpe-austria.at/foerderungen.

How much does it cost to operate a heat pump?

These depend on various factors such as local conditions, the building's insulation, and personal heating needs. In general, however, heating costs for new buildings powered by air-water heat pumps can be significantly lower than €50 per month.

How loud can a heat pump be?

To ensure peaceful coexistence with neighbors and the community, a noise level of 30 dB(A) should be maintained at the property boundary. This means your TOSHIBA heat pump can be installed as little as 6 meters away from the neighboring property.

What does JAZ stand for?

The JahresArbeitsZahl (annual performance factor) represents the efficiency of heating systems operated with heat pumps. It reflects the relationship between the energy supplied (electricity) and the heat actually generated over a period of one year and serves as a key indicator for economic efficiency calculations.

What is the life expectancy of a heat pump?

An LW heat pump has the same service life as other conventional heating systems, which is ensured by regular maintenance and guaranteed 15-year spare parts availability.

How much space do you need for a heat pump?

The transfer station takes up a space of (HxWxD) 93x53x36cm, so the heat pump can be used even in the smallest rooms.

What is electric auxiliary heating needed for?

The certified heat pump partner will design the TOSHIBA heat pump for your building so that the electric auxiliary heating is only necessary to support heating at the lowest outside temperatures.

Is it possible to combine a heat pump with a solar system or photovoltaics?

Integrating solar energy in combination with your heat pump is possible and can contribute to increased efficiency.

Can I cool with a heat pump?

In winter, you heat with your underfloor heating, and in summer, you can use it to regulate the temperature in your room. Active cooling is possible with fan coil units.

How efficient is the heat pump in summer when I only need hot water?

Since heat pumps work even more efficiently at higher outside temperatures, they can perfectly and cost-effectively produce hot water temperatures of up to 55°C at outside temperatures of up to 35°C.

Up to what flow temperature does it make sense to operate a heat pump?

The lower the flow temperature, the more energy-efficient the heat pump is. Flow temperatures of up to 60°C are possible, but for radiators, 50°C is usually sufficient if they are operated continuously.

How do you determine the correct power size of a heat pump?

The correct design determines the efficiency of the heat pump, which in our systems is carried out using the performance table in order to be able to guarantee the necessary heating output of your building down to the standard outside temperature without the aid of auxiliary heating.

What can I control with the heat pump?

The heat pump has an intelligent control logic that independently regulates the heating temperature of the radiators, the underfloor heating and the hot water depending on the outside temperature.

How easy is commissioning?

Thanks to pre-defined installation diagrams and associated commissioning parameters, commissioning is a stress-free and quick process for the specialist. With the step-by-step instructions in the appendix/manual or app, every parameter can be adapted to individual needs.

What do I need to connect the heat pump to a building management system?

External control or integration into a building management system via KNX or MODBus is possible using additional boards.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

Should a malfunction or problem occur with your system, the certified heat pump installer will be available to provide you with advice and assistance.

What does nominal power mean?

Nominal power is the device power at a given operating point.

What does heating limit temperature mean?

The daily average temperature at which a building must be heated. Days on which the daily average temperature is below the heating limit temperature are considered heating days.

What does standard outside temperature mean?

The average lowest expected outside temperature for which your heating is designed.

What is COP?

COP stands for Coefficient Of Performance and indicates the ratio between electrical energy consumed and heat energy received at a specific operating point.

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