ACR Journal

CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai 27 ADVERTORIAL There is increasing pressure to change the way we utilise energy in buildings, reducing carbon emissions not only through the use of renewable technology but also through energy consumption patterns. Two-thirds (65%) of Europe’s building stock dates from before 1980, meaning around 97% of the EU’s buildings must be upgraded to achieve 2050 decarbonisation goals, with just 0.4-1.2% currently renovated each year. UK building stock is generally poorly insulated, and largely heated by fossil fuels. Along with the implementation of the Future Buildings Standard in 2025, the UK government has brought in numerous regulations and legislation to help meet 2050 Net Zero targets by improving the efficiency of our current building stock and new builds to move towards a cleaner, brighter future. Decarbonisation of buildings plays an important part in driving product development and innovation in the HVACR industry, as well as considering how we use energy. Heat pumps have been identified by the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) and the Greater London Authority as the primary technology choice for decarbonising heat in existing London buildings. The CCC has estimated that to meet the commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050, 19 million heat pumps will need to be installed, and that hybrid heat pumps should be widely used by 2035. Refrigerant choice When talking about direct and indirect emissions, we need to consider the types of refrigerants we use in heat pumps. Whilst relatively small in terms of the wider environmental impact, refrigerants are still damaging. An environmental audit committee report highlighted that 3% of UK greenhouse gas emissions are of HFCs and, when released into the atmosphere, these refrigerants act as an insulating blanket, absorbing heat energy. Global Warming Potential is used to compare the environmental impact of different refrigerants but the process is not as Decarbonisation: the bigger picture simple as choosing one with the lowest GWP rating, as flammability and toxicity form part of the equation. We also have to consider the temperature application of the refrigerant and the amount of energy each Kg of refrigerant can hold in relation to condensing and evaporating system pressures. Equipment efficiency gains There are also multiple components of a heat pump system worthy of discussion in terms of energy consumption and efficiency. The compressor has the highest energy consumption of all components and is also largely responsible for the performance of the system through volumetric efficiency and enthalpy increase. Fans and circulation pumps are essential for the operation of a chiller or heat pump. EC fans and pumps are now some of the most energy-efficient on the market and offer accurate load control and energy savings of up to 30%. Microchannel heat exchangers are offered as alternatives to traditional copper and aluminium fin heat exchangers, with energy transfer improved by up to 40%. System design Whether utilising energy from air or water sources, electrical energy is required to increase enthalpy via the compressor. The higher the ratio of energy produced, the more efficient the system; the more efficient the system, the less the environmental impact, and the lower the operating costs. Heat recovery technology through products such as the Fujitsu applied Energy Power range allow us to reduce the amount of energy absorbed or rejected by a system and reuse it. With careful planning when using four-pipe simultaneous systems for energy recovery, capital costs and operating costs can be reduced with total efficiency ratios of up to 8.66. Furthermore, the potential can be extended if we consider potable hot water production as well as space heating. Conclusion There is rarely a single solution available and environmental impact is not necessarily improved simply by using low-GWP refrigerants. The way we utilise energy and think outside the box for energy recovery and integration into third-party systems is where the real benefit can be. For more information about how you can increase the potential of your design, visit: https://www.fujitsu-general.com/uk/ Volume 9 No.1 Martyn Ives, Distribution Sales & Technical Services Director at Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, says thinking outside the box can offer real benefits for heat pump system design with Fujitsu applied products Fujitsu applied Energy Power 4-pipe simultaneous operation heat pump - operating in energy recovery mode with total efficiency ratios of up to 8.6