ZubaDan Super Heating
To reduce costs required to maintain an acceptable level of heating, is possible through the medium of the heat pumps. However, for small dwellings such as chalets, ground-source heat pumps are not acceptable because of the high capital costs, which bring to a long payback period. Therefore, the emergence in our market of low-temperature air heat pumps has increased the attention of both -as professionals, as well as the potential customers. Is particularly encouraging the fact that so useful technology is supplied to Russian market practically without delays. The first super-heaters - Mitsubishi Electric ZubaDan heat pumps were installed in Russia by the end of 2008. It was announced that these heat pumps could work even when the outdoor temperature is about -25°C. Their main advantage is the ability to maintain the nominal heat power quite constant up to -15°C.
Performance data of the semiindustrial ZubaDan heat pump
Simultaneously with the series of semi-industrial ZubaDan heat pumps, which row of heating power is 8,0, 11,2 and 14,0 kW, it has appeared a new version of DeLuxe class split system of utility-type M-series of the same manufacturer, which row of heating power is 3,2, 4,0 и 6,0 kW, and with the same stable characteristics of heating capacity.
Performance data of the customer grade ZubaDan/DeLuxe heat pump
However, if for some consumers the appearance of low-temperature heat pumps becomes a stimulus to action, for other potential users it still remains as a subject of doubts. The point is if the lower limit of outdoor temperature, announced by the manufacturer, is acceptable to their practical application in Russia. Although already installed ZubaDan have worked confidently during the first Russian winters, the formal pretext to ask what could be expected from this equipment in Russian climate is still opened.
It is clear that the answers to all possible questions could be definitively responded only after a large period of practical operation of this equipment. But some previous conclusions could be done on the basis of some, even not so widely known, information.
Firstly, it is appropriate to note that the Canadian provider of ZubaDan - Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. - has extended by himself the operational range of heat pumps in North America up to -30°C. And so did the Swedish provider of a new systems DeLuxe - Canvac AB in Sweden.
The minimal, officially indicated, temperature level of the exploitation of the low-temperature heat pumps ZubaDan/DeLuxe
Secondly, while at the -25°C the thermal power of these pumps is 80% of the nominal, in the Russian winter conditions it is necessarily to dispose of the second source of the heat. And this is not for the reasons of economic efficiency and the necessary level of temperature comfort to obtain, but as a security measure for the energy supply. It may sounds paradoxically, but this condition must be fulfilled particularly in the situations when the energy carrier is obtained from a central grid, which not belongs to the consumer. It is obvious that engaging the reserve heating source during the operation of ZubaDan heat pumps is rational only when approaching the temperature of -15°C.
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The article elaborat ed on th e ba sis of materials provided by Alexander Suslov