In a country like China

In a country like China, with a rapidly developing economy and a mindboggling level of activity in the building sector, conditions are ideal for the development of an emerging heat pump and air-conditioning market. And there are many challenges for metropolitan Beijing, which is at the core of these developments. Beijing has an open eye for a better environment going hand in hand with city expansion and living and working space for its inhabitants and visitors. For the first time in the history of the IEA Heat Pump Programme, the conference was held in a country outside the IEA group of nations. But this may soon change, as China has announced that it plans to join the programme in the near future.
This overview article on the 7th Heat Pump Conference will focus on conference highlights and present some of the material submitted as well as the results of some of the discussions that took place. It consists of two parts: part 1 presents an overview of international market developments per region, with China, France and Sweden being highlighted, as well as a discussion of the energy and environment rationale behind using heat pumps; part 2 discusses various technological and related market developments and ground-source heat pumps in particula

electric utilities

electric utilities. The goal was to boost sales to 400,000 units by 2000. This goal was not achieved, partly because utilities were restructured, resulting in withdrawal of their support and marketing. Nevertheless, under this programme sales nearly doubled from 40,000 in 1994 to 80,000 in 1999, accelerating the growth of the industry.
In late 1998, the Federal Energy Management Programme established its ground-coupled heat pump technology initiative. Shipments in the US increased more than ten-fold from 1999 to 2001. It is the most cost-effective component of the overall DOE groundcoupled heat pumps programme that remains active today.
Ground-coupled heat pumps in the US remain possibly the best technology available today for reducing energy consumption from space heating and cooling, and from water heating: “Managing Btu’s with ground-coupled heat pumps - by moving them from room to room, from air conditioners to water heaters, or storing them in the ground for the winter - is a more prudent use of energy than dumping thermal energy into the air as virtually all conventional air conditioners do today

In the UK

In the UK, heat pumps have mainly found application in the commercial/ institutional sector, with an installed base in 2000 of some 600,000 systems. Current annual sales in the UK are estimated at 70,000 systems. These are mostly reverse cycle split systems. In the residential market around 380 units were sold in 2000 and a market is emerging for residential ground-source heat pumps. Thus, the commercial/ institutional market is expected to be the major area of heat pump application in the UK for the time frame 20002020. A model was developed that distinguishes ten sub-sectors. The model takes into account anticipated trends in construction, in the penetration of air conditioning, equipment replacement rates, changing fuel mix for electricity generation and improvements in the performance of heat pumps and fossil fuel boilers (the common heating system in the UK). Different refrigerants and SPFs (Seasonal Performance Factors) were used to calculate the direct and indirect components of the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI). Figure 13 shows that the sub-sector with the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions is the office buildings sector with a reduction of 0.2 Mt in 202

China is eager

China is eager to use sustainable and sound technologies, as they have a positive effect on energy conservation and environmental protection. The Beijing municipal government has adopted heat pump technology as one of the four supporting technologies for realising the energy and environment targets of the city. We are sure that heat pump technologies will have a bright future in China, so we welcome more cooperation in the heat pump sector and other energy efficiency areas. We would like to take advantage of this opportunity to acknowledge the financial support provided by the conference sponsors. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all regional coordinators, speakers invited to the conference, session chairpersons, authors of papers, the conference secretariat and the participants, who have all supported the conference and put in a lot of hard work

Qualifying Homes and Business’

Qualifying Homes and Business’
The following requirements must be met to qualify: • Weatherization levels of the home must meet or exceed the following requirements: − Attic insulation of R-19 minimum (where physical construction of the attic allows installation of insulation by conventional methods) − Adequate weather-stripping − Adequate caulking Note: Additional weatherization such as floor insulation and storm windows may be required to meet minimum thermal balance point. • In a dwelling application, if requirements are not met, additional weatherization must be in the process of being installed to meet or exceed (up to the maximum allowed) those required levels. Weatherization standards and weatherization inspection procedures are found in the Reference Materials Manual.  Distributors may select requirements for  business applications. • Equipment shall be sized and selected to meet the requirements of the Installation Standards section of this section. These minimum weatherization measures shall be installed before the final inspection of the heat pump system. Installation of customer optional storm windows and floor insulation, installed in conjunction with the heat pump, must also be completed prior to the system inspection. All new weatherization measures installed must be in accordance with Reference Materials.

Polyethylene pipes

Polyethylene pipes shall be joined only by socket or butt heat fusion methods. Polybutylene pipe shall be joined only by the socket heat fusion method. Metal barbed fittings or clamps shall not be allowed below ground surface. ⇒ Only proper fusion equipment as specified by the heat pump and/or pipe manufacturer shall be used. Proper heater plate temperatures, heating times, and curing times for various grades, thickness, and sizes of pipe shall be maintained. ⇒ Equipment room piping may be plastic, copper, or other material as allowed by the heat pump manufacturer. − Heat Pump & Circulation System Equipment and Installation ⇒ Pressure/temperature (P/T) test ports, such as "Pete's Plugs" or equal, shall be installed at the "water-in" and "water-out" pipe connections on the heat pump. ⇒ All equipment room piping shall be insulated with 1/2-inch Armaflex (or equal) insulation to prevent condensation. ⇒ System components (such as circulating pumps) shall be installed as specified by the component and/or heat pump manufacturer. Only bronze or stainless steel pumps shall be allowed. ⇒ The system circulating pump(s) shall have sufficient capacity to provide the design gallon-per-minute flow rate of the fluid being used in the system. ⇒ The system circulating pump(s) shall provide sufficient fluid velocity in the earth coil to result in turbulent flow (Reynolds Number, R > 2500). The calculation shall be made with viscosity and density of the fluid taken at the system's designed lowest entering water temperature. ⇒ The QCN member shall determine if antifreeze is required for the earth coil design. Calcium chloride or potassium acetate (GS4) shall not be used as antifreeze because of their corrosive nature

Ground Water Source

Ground Water Source Heat Pump and Earth Coupled Heat Pump Inspection Procedures
Inspector shall verify the ground water source heat pump and earth couple heat pump adhere to installation standards. (See Installation Standards for certain sections that do not apply.) In addition, inspector shall do the following: • Check ground water source heat pump and earth coupled heat pump for installation of pressure/temperature (P/T) test ports installed in the "water-in" and "water-out" piping runs at the unit. The P/T test ports shall be as close as possible to the heat pump. • Check system heating capacity as follows: − Allow heat pump system to operate for at least 15 minutes. − Measure water pressure drop between water-in and water-out test plugs at heat pump. (Use same instrument to measure both to reduce error). − Measure entering water temperature at water-in test plug.
Section 2B   01/16/2007
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− Using manufacturer's performance data, determine the water flow rate (gallons per minute) and the heating capacity of the installation using the measured pressure drop and the measured entering water temperature. − Determine heating capacity by using the following formula: Btuh = TD x 1.1 x CFM TD = temperature difference between supply air and return air 1.1 = air properties constant CFM = Cubic feet per minute air calculated, from funnel, temperature rise, or return air method  − Verify that system capacity is + 10 percent of the equipment manufacturer's rating at the test conditions