Hybrid systems respond to changing temperatures and automatically adjust to the most energy-efficient heating or cooling method available. They can be an economical alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems..
A standard hybrid system consists of a heat pump and a heat generator (natural gas boiler, propane-butane, diesel fuel, biomass, etc.). Heat pumps use electricity to produce heat and cold, and the gas, fuel or wood biomass heating generator. The more energy from renewable energy sources will be used in a hybrid system, the more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly will be its work.
Thus, a standard system in which two sources of heating / cooling work are in fact a hybrid system. Heat pumps are a generally effective solution for home heating, while the ambient air temperature does not drop to around 0 ° C. This means that the heat pump unit produces heat that is cheaper than the energy generated by, for example, a gas boiler. When the outside air temperatures are very low below zero, the amount of gas required for heating the building goes much cheaper than the heat used in the heat pump. In this case, the electronic control switches off the heat pump and automatically switches on the gas boiler.
Another possible and practical solution is the supply of a hybrid system including a heat pump and a wood pellet boiler, which can be used for heating pellet boilers and fireplaces, solar collectors and others. These hybrid systems require higher investment costs than conventional systems, but the return on investment is within 3-5 years or even less, given the potential annual savings of 30-50%.
In other words, at normal outside temperatures, the use of electricity for the operation of the heat pump is more cost-effective, and with low negative temperatures the use of pellet boilers and gaseous fuel is advantageous, providing much more stable heating at rapid cooling.
The applications of the hybrid systems are varied. They can be installed in single-family and multi-family houses, apartments. A modern practical solution in these facilities is to heat and cool different rooms differently depending on the user’s desire: low temperature radiators, radiant floor, wall and ceiling heating or a fan coil system.
Similarly, hybrid systems can be used for heating and cooling of hotels, offices, restaurants, spa centers, warehouses, shops, workshops and more. It is important to note that hybrid systems have the advantage of being extremely versatile and allow even distribution of heating and cooling in the case of limited space.
Choosing a particular type of hybrid system will in all cases result in economic and environmental benefits across all seasons and variations in outdoor temperatures, a solution that will ensure guaranteed optimal energy efficiency and comfort for consumers throughout the year.
The hybrid heating and cooling system includes a heat pump with a high COP / EER (coefficient of efficiency / efficiency ratio) and a properly dimensioned gas generator or pellet boiler. The high annual savings potential is achieved as a result of their combined use.
A hybrid system provides efficient heating and cooling with much lower operating costs than conventional heating and cooling systems at approximately the same efficiency. As a result of combining both energy sources, the hybrid system can optimize consumer spending as much as possible by automatically switching to a more cost-effective source.
Heating and / or cooling modes as well as the use of a given energy source for different seasons and outdoor temperatures can be set by means of an intelligent control system that automatically manages and monitors the operation of the system to ensure adequate and flexible operation and optimal energy savings.
In geographic areas with a colder climate, especially in winter when outdoor air temperatures are below 20 ° C, gas or wood biomass heat pumps are not only the most efficient solution but also no alternative to guaranteeing the necessary thermal comfort. When the air temperatures rise and reach the preset levels, the heat pump will turn on and generate heating energy.
In practice, hybrid heating systems using water as a heat carrier are very popular, with an air-to-water heat pump, a pellet boiler or natural gas for heat production and a piping distribution network to heat exchangers and heat energy consumers for heating and domestic hot water in separate rooms.
Which are the main advantages of hybrid heating and cooling technology
- High performance and guaranteed temperature comfort;
- Optimal heat recovery from the environment via air-water heat pump with electronic inverter control;
- Intelligent management of the hybrid system with appropriate communication, taking into account the prices of electricity, natural gas, LPG and wood pellets;
- Low heating costs and domestic hot water compared to conventional heating;
- Automatic use of the cheapest energy source in each case
- High temperatures of heating water, even when outside air temperatures drop to very low values;
- Using Integrated High Performance Pumps;
- Faster installation and low operating costs;
- No noise when cooling rooms.
The hybrid systems offered by Ekoterm Proekt are the ideal solution for new homes with integrated heating, cooling and domestic hot water systems in line with the European regulations on the use of renewable energy sources.