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 Water
Source Heat Pumps
The Heat Harvester®™ water source heat pump is a
self-contained water-cooled packaged heating and cooling unit with a
reversible refrigerant cycle. Depending on the model, components are
typically enclosed in a common casing, and include a brazed plate heat
exchanger, a heating/cooling coil, a compressor, a fan, a reversing
valve and controls. |
During the cooling mode, the plate heat exchangers function as condenser
and evaporator. In the heating mode the functions reverse. A reversing
valve is installed in the refrigerant circuit to permit the changeover
from heating to cooling, and vice versa. The condenser and evaporator
assemblies are designed to accept hot and cold refrigerant liquid or
gas.
Application Considerations
The water source heat pump is, by definition, a heat recovery system. It
is best applied to buildings that have simultaneous cooling and heating
loads. This is the case during winter months during which some units
cool interior zones while others heat perimeter zones. The heat rejected
by cooling units is used to warm the zones calling for heat. A boiler is
used to warm condensing water during the peak heating periods, if
necessary. Also, a cooling tower is required to reject the heat energy
from the condenser water loop during periods of high cooling demand.
Another valuable benefit of water source heat pumps is that they can
accommodate simultaneous calls from zones requiring heating or cooling.
Depending on the climate, outside air may require preheat or cooling
prior to being introduced to the unit. In the example of ceiling mounted
water source heat pumps, put outside air ducts near each unit to improve
indoor air quality.
Often, multiple units serve an occupied space, so, if one were to fail,
the other units could back it up until the unit is repaired. The
packaged design of most unit types allows quick change-out by service
personnel so maintenance can be performed off site.
Advantages
Water Source Heat Pumps can save money and lower energy consumption by:
recovering heat from building interior zones and "pumping" it to the
perimeter of the building thereby isolating and shutting down unoccupied
areas of the building.
Heat pump units are installed inside the building; they aren't exposed
to the weather. This is especially important, for example, in coastal
areas were the atmosphere can be very corrosive.
They are very flexible. The system can be subdivided or expanded into
new zones to fit building remodeling or additions easily and
inexpensively.
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