How they work, safe water temperatures, and the true temperature of the water produced by them
What is a thermodynamic hot water system?
Thermodynamic water heating systems are designed to absorb energy from a range of climatic elements and do not require the sun to heat water. They do this through a circuit of three main parts…
The first is their external thermodynamic hot water panels, which take in energy from any atmospheric element including wind, snow, hail and rain. Secondly, these panels are linked via specialist refrigeration piping to the internal heat pump unit, and then thirdly, heat energy is transferred to the hot water cylinder, which all household hot water is then taken from.
A full description of how thermodynamic hot water systems work can be found here.
Do thermodynamic hot water systems generate water that is hot enough for domestic use?
According to the Recommended Code of Practice for Safe Water Temperatures, there has been evidence to indicate that the risk of scalding rapidly increases from temperatures of 45°C and above… For example, partial thickness burns will occur within 30 seconds at 55°C.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends setting to no higher than 49 °C (120 °F), although is to my understanding that medical professionals do not recommend heating bath or shower water to over 43.4°C, as any hotter than this can be harmful to health.
Thermodynamic, and solar assisted heat pumps are ERP tested to be able to heat your water to 53°C, they are also capable of heating water to a maximum of 60°C once a week (the required temperature for legionella control).
The speed that thermodynamic hot water systems achieve this temperature
The Bunsen Air Thermodynamic Hot Water system is one such high quality system of its kind. Field trials, carried out by manufacturer Solamics, have demonstrated the remarkable speed that a hot water cylinder can be heated back up to temperature through the use of a thermodynamic system.
The result drawn from this test was exceptional…
1. To recover the cylinder temperature from 30 to 53 ℃, Bunsen unit took 2 hours and 1 minute in total.
2. The COP in outdoor temperature at 8 ℃, water temperature from 30℃ to 35℃, is 7.3.
The COP was measured up to 35℃ as this reflects the COP of a standard heat pump.
Will there be enough hot water to go around?
After the water heating process has taken place, there is enough hot water generated to accommodate the use of an average domestic household. As the heating process is continuous, a sustained supply of hot water is ensured. Should even more hot water be required, there is a ‘boost’ function on the system controller, allowing users to increase the target temperature!
How to get hold of one
JEM Energy are suppliers of the Bunsen Air, and have already carried out hundreds of successful installations across the UK.
Customers who have had their systems installed for as little as three months, are already reporting savings of as much as £60 a month, as well as acknowledging that their systems are heating water that is more than hot enough for domestic bathing and washing purposes, as well as reporting that their systems are supplying enough hot water to accommodate their entire household.
Why not get in touch with JEM Energy to learn hot a thermodynamic hot water system could help you start saving up to 90% on your hot water energy bills!