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Water source heat pump

Making your money go further
UncleEbenezer
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Water source heat pump

#246751

Postby UncleEbenezer » August 24th, 2019, 12:52 pm

Since I'm now on the river, a water source heat pump might be a good option for me.

Anyone here use one, or know anything about them? Prospective suppliers seem to be few and far between!

BusyBumbleBee
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Re: Water source heat pump

#246760

Postby BusyBumbleBee » August 24th, 2019, 1:15 pm

Well thought out UncleE. Any ground source heat pump supplier should be able to do the work as it simpler than digging trenches or drilling a borehole. Best heat source of any kind if you are allowed to use it - which you will have to check with someone - first port of call could be the local drainage board with kind regards - BBB

PhaseThree

Re: Water source heat pump

#246772

Postby PhaseThree » August 24th, 2019, 2:13 pm

From memory there are a couple of water source heat pump configurations. You can go for a closed loop setup in which pipe loops are weighted down and sunk in the bottom of your river. In theory the fluid circulating through the pipes never comes in contact with the river water, but the fluid needs to meet environmental standards in case of accidents. The other option is an open loop system in which you pump water out of the river run it through a heat exchanger and discharge it back into the river. Conceptually this is a simpler system which doesnt require specialist heat transfer fluids but is seen by the environmental agancies as a separate extract and discharge despite the fact that the discharge is essentially the same water, just a bit cooler. In either case you probably need to talk to the river and enviromental agencies. Kensa were doing water sourced heat pumps at one point.

dspp
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Re: Water source heat pump

#246776

Postby dspp » August 24th, 2019, 2:40 pm

My recollection is that the Environment Agency regard them as being undesirable for a variety of reasons. Not the least because the angling lobby pretty much control the EA in these matters.

A first question is whether the river flows through your land (i.e. do you own land on both sides of the river), or whether it simply borders your land (i.e. do you own one bank).

A second question is what is the scale of the 'river'.

I would not get your hopes up. Just as with microhydro the EA pretty much do what the angling lobby says. But I am happy to be wrong in your particular case.

regards, dspp

UncleEbenezer
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Re: Water source heat pump

#246781

Postby UncleEbenezer » August 24th, 2019, 3:58 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I found Kensa through googling, and have submitted an enquiry there. There was one other web site (whose name I forget) where I also submitted an enquiry.

Of course it'll all be subject to relevant permissions: I hope a reputable supplier will advise me what I need (beyond regular planning permission). Something to deal with if&when I decide it's worth the effort.

No I don't believe I own any of the river itself. But my building (which was industrial before conversion to houses 20 years ago) does have a history of using it: there's a weir immediately outside, that was originally a power source before the days of energy distribution networks.

Also a faint possibility if the project looks feasible: invite neighbours to join me in the project and make a joint facility for all five houses in the building. Thus no doubt benefiting from economies of scale.

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Re: Water source heat pump

#246792

Postby BusyBumbleBee » August 24th, 2019, 5:36 pm

UncleEbenezer wrote:No I don't believe I own any of the river itself. But my building (which was industrial before conversion to houses 20 years ago) does have a history of using it: there's a weir immediately outside, that was originally a power source before the days of energy distribution networks.

Also a faint possibility if the project looks feasible: invite neighbours to join me in the project and make a joint facility for all five houses in the building. Thus no doubt benefiting from economies of scale.

Very interesting

There are various funds/grants available for help with community projects like this :

see https://www.powertochange.org.uk/get-su ... -programme for example
What is Next Generation Community Energy?
The Next Generation programme is a £1m+ fund and expert support programme, created by Power to Change to pioneer innovative community-led energy projects and business models.

Existing community energy businesses will be supported to develop into holistic energy businesses that provide benefits across their local community. We will award grants of up to £100,000 to 10 community energy businesses, alongside a support programme of research and analysis. See our Grants page for more detail on how to apply.

and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-energy

There is much,much more so DYOR :) from here on - kind regards - BBB


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