What is a Water Source Heat Pump?
A Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) extracts heat from a body of water that has a sufficient depth and flow rate, such as a pond or a stream. The extracted heat can then be converted and applied to heat your home or business.
How does it work?
Water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning that it takes longer to heat up but holds heat for a lot longer than the ground, making it a more efficient option compared to GSHPs. Using water collectors, the thermal energy is extracted, passed through a heat pump and then used for heating and hot water.With all water source heat pumps it is important that the water source does not dry up. This is particularly important if open loop bore holes are being used; no water means no heat.
Methods of collecting water from the ground
Closed Loop:
Similar to the way GSHP’s work, closed loop uses a series of pipes, known as collectors which are carefully places into a pond or stream.
These pipes are then circulated with a mixture of water and anti-freeze, which absorbs heat from the body of water and then passes through the heat-exchanger into the heat pump.
The fluid is then compressed, raising the temperature so that it can be used to cater for your heating and hot water needs.
Cooled ground-loop fluid will passes back into the ground where it absorbs further thermal energy, and the process begins again.
Similar to the way GSHP’s work, closed loop uses a series of pipes, known as collectors which are carefully places into a pond or stream.
These pipes are then circulated with a mixture of water and anti-freeze, which absorbs heat from the body of water and then passes through the heat-exchanger into the heat pump.
The fluid is then compressed, raising the temperature so that it can be used to cater for your heating and hot water needs.
Cooled ground-loop fluid will passes back into the ground where it absorbs further thermal energy, and the process begins again.
Open Loop: This solution simply extracts fluid from the water source itself. This could be from a stream or a pond, but could also be from an aquaduct using bore holes.
Using a pump, the water is pulled through a series of filters and then into the heat pump itself.
The water is then compressed, raising the temperature so that it can be used to cater for your heating and hot water needs.
Collected water is then put back into the water source a little further away.
Using a pump, the water is pulled through a series of filters and then into the heat pump itself.
The water is then compressed, raising the temperature so that it can be used to cater for your heating and hot water needs.
Collected water is then put back into the water source a little further away.
Benefits of a WSHP:
- Low carbon, environmentally friendly heating system with year round efficiency
- More cost effective compared to ground source heat pumps due to less ground work
- Reduces your monthly energy bill
- Compared to other heat pumps, WSHP’s have a higher efficiency due to it’s high specific heat capacity.
- Suitable for buildings of all sizes whether it be residential or commercial
- Works with a variety of heat distributions systems including underfloor heating, radiators and hot water
- Quiet, long-lasting operation.
- Requires minimal maintenance.
- Redeem government incentives for investing in a low carbon heating system.
Government Incentives
A new government backed scheme, called The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is on offer to help with the initial cost of installing a Heat Pump. This is a voucher-based scheme providing people with an upfront grant up to £7,500 when investing in a Heat Pump. And what’s better is that this is an installer based scheme so we take care of everything for you!
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