Heat pumps: energy source of the future

In simple terms, heat pumps are devices that take thermal energy at a lower temperature - usually from the environment - and transfer it to a system at a higher temperature, such as space heaters, with the help of electricity-driven pumps. Cool air can thus be transformed into heat - thus the heat pump works like a refrigerator, only in reverse and with much higher power. The advantage of heat pumps is that, on the one hand, they consume very little electricity and, on the other, they emit no CO2. The ambient heat that the pumps make use of can come from the earth, groundwater, ambient air or waste heat.

While heat pumps are already standard in private homes and commercial applications, their use in industry is still in its infancy. Yet large heat pumps in the output range from 100 to over 1,000 kW can already be used successfully in companies - especially in the field of drying. A quarter of the energy consumed in industry is used to dry materials such as wood, building materials or fibers. According to the AIT study, heat pumps could be used primarily in these low-temperature applications.

Whether heat pumps are good or bad for the environment depends on several factors: On the one hand, the power source used to feed the heat pump is decisive - i.e. whether the electricity comes from fossil fuels or renewable energies. Secondly, the coefficient of performance (COP) of the heat pump is decisive: It indicates the ratio of the useful heat output in relation to the electrical power used to drive the heat pump. For a correct assessment, however, this ratio must be considered over a period of one year. The higher the annual performance factor of a heat pump, the more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective it is - and vice versa. In summary, this means that the purchase of the heat pump alone is not enough - it must also be used appropriately and generate energy to be considered a sustainable energy source.

The purchase of a heat pump is a long-term decision and requires precise planning. For the first time, the AIT Center for Energy has developed an app for the visual and acoustic positioning of heating and cooling devices: The so-called HVAC Positioner is the first and only app that uses augmented reality to place a heat pump in a real environment. The implemented real-time sound propagation calculation allows positioning the equipment (heat pump or chiller) perfectly according to current regulations and personal preferences. The app can also be used to visually display the noise development of the unit - using a method also developed by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology to minimize noise emissions in urban areas.

• Integration of the heat pump / cooling unit into any environment 
• Noise development can be displayed visually
• Continuous development of the application 
• Continuous updating of the database and device types