Are you interested in diversifying your business or looking to offer your customers an electrified heating solution? Get to know more about the technical operation of heat pumps and how our team of experts can support you through our training courses.
How does an air source heat pump operate differently from a boiler?
The main difference between a boiler and an air source heat pump is the source of power. Boilers use gas or oil to function through combustion whereas air source heat pumps use electricity and air.
Heat pumps typically run continuously at low flow temperatures that change with the weather, unlike boilers that traditionally fire up intermittently at higher temperatures. A heat pump is at its best when it operates at a low flow temperature when circulating water around the heating system.
The two main types of air source heat pump are monobloc and split systems. The installation requirements of the property will likely determine which type is required.
Understanding how heat pumps work
A heat pump uses electricity to absorb energy from the environment, via the refrigeration cycle which is then used to heat the central heating system. Heat pumps tend to be more efficient when running ‘low and slow’ to continuously heat the home.
Heat Pump System Types
Heat pumps come in several types, including monobloc, split, and hybrid systems. Explore the options below to learn how each system works and understand the key differences between them.
Monobloc heat pump
An all-in-one heat pump system where the entire refrigeration circuit, including the compressor and heat exchangers are self-contained within a single outdoor unit. This compact design saves valuable indoor space and is easy to maintain. A monobloc heat pump has the refrigerant sealed during manufacture, so an FGAS qualification is not required for installations.
Split heat pump
A split heat pump delivers the same high performance as a monobloc system but its refrigeration components are divided across multiple units.
The outside unit contains one heat exchanger and compressor, while the indoor unit contains the second heat exchanger, connected by refrigerant pipework. This split configuration offers greater installation flexibility. Note that because this system requires on-site refrigerant piping, installers must hold an FGAS qualification to complete the setup.
Hybrid heat pump
A hybrid heat pump system typically combines two proven technologies; an air source heat pump and a gas or oil-fired boiler, managed by a hybrid control unit which acts as the ‘brain’ of the system. The control unit will choose to use energy from the heat pump or boiler depending on factors like the outside temperature and the cost of electricity at the time.
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COP and SCOP explained
The performance of a heat pump is measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP), which represents the ratio of heat output to electrical input. For example, a COP of 3.0 means the system delivers 3kWh of heat for every 1kWh of electricity consumed. A higher COP indicates greater energy efficiency.
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) measures the average efficiency across an entire year. By incorporating fluctuating outdoor temperatures to account for changing weather, SCOP provides a more realistic, real-world representation of a heat pump's annual efficiency.
A heat pump’s COP will use data under specific circumstances whereas SCOP will use real world averages to calculate efficiency.
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