SOLAR ASSISTED HEAT PUMPS
STAINLESS STEEL TANK
No anode rod necessary- 25 Year Warranty!
REDUCED ELECTRICITY USE
Using renewable energy to reduce electric consumption by 50% or more (as compared to common electric resistance water heaters.)
NO FANS OR DRAINS NEEDED
Evaporator panels are mounted outside so no fans, filters, or drains are necessary thus reducing maintenance, and noise level.
INTERIOR TEMPERATURE IS NOT AFFECTED
Unlike common heat pump water heaters, heat is harvested from the exterior, so there is no need for interior air space from which to “steal” heat.
PRICE
SAHPs qualify for the 26% Federal Solar TAX CREDIT and state REBATE programs, yielding a net cost below common heat pump water heaters.
WHAT IS A SOLAR ASSISTED HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER?
A heat pump water heater is best described as ‘A Fridge in Reverse’. A household refrigerator uses an exposed panel to keep its contents cold. A heat pump water heater utilizes the same principle to achieve the opposite effect- circulating refrigerant liquid through a panel and absorbing rather than rejecting heat. Solar assisted heat pump water heaters (SAHPs) utilize an exterior aluminum panel to absorb heat- eliminating the need for a fan or internal area from which to “steal” heat. SAHPs are an all-electric appliance using renewable energy to reduce electric consumption by over 50% (as compared to common electric resistance water heaters.)
HOW DOES IT WORK?
SAHP water heaters are engineered to harness energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Unlike solar panels, thermodynamic panels do not require direct sunlight to harvest energy. The thermodynamic panel acts as a heat exchanger, utilizing ambient air temperature (day and night in all weather conditions) to evaporate circulating refrigerant from a liquid to a gaseous state. The process starts when water heating is called for (when the water temperature within the tank drops 10°F below the target set point temperature). Liquid refrigerant is then circulated through the exterior thermodynamic panel at a temperature proportionally colder than the ambient air temperature. This is possible even with ambient air temperatures as low as 8°F. As the liquid refrigerant is circulated through the thermodynamic panel, heat moves from the comparatively warmer ambient air, heating the refrigerant past its relative boiling point and evaporating the refrigerant to its gaseous form. The gaseous state refrigerant is then returned to the SAHP (located on top of the tank) and compressed to rise the refrigerant temperature up to as high as 155°F, before being circulated through the condenser (a heating coil wrapped around the tank) where it heats potable water within the tank. As it transfers its heat, the refrigerant cools and condenses back to a liquid state, ready to repeat the process.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING APPLICATIONS
SAHPs have been installed at many commercial facilities including hotels and multi-family buildings. Units can be piped together to serve common hot water systems, or piped separately serving individual apartments. Evaporator panels can be installed back to back on roofs or walls to reduce their footprint and visual impact. Direct solar access is not essential in order to achieve high efficiencies. Especially for all-electric buildings, SAHPs are an excellent domestic hot water option- contact us for a free cost/benefit analysis for your facility.
For more information see the video here:
VERTICALLY
INTEGRATED
We have all of the relevant disciplines in-house
SYSTEM
MONITORING
The best monitoring capabilities that exist
PROBLEM
SOLVERS
No one else matches our capabilities and familiarity
EXTENDED
WARRANTIES
Robust hardware - built to last 20 years or more
Find out how easy it can be to switch to solar hot water, and how the benefits of renewable energy can help you save money and the environment.
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