Thermodynamic Panels, I want your positive thoughts and negative thoughts

[Scotsplum]

Hi guys :waving:

I am starting this thread so I can gain a bit more info for myself so would appreciate any info whether positive or negative

Last year I had one of these thermodynamic systems installed prior to installation I was informed Accreditation was being sought regarding the RHI payment well things are moving :snore: maybe. The system performs better than I expected, I have friends that have other recognized systems installed and my system seems to out perform theirs especially given the location (Scotland) I have learnt this type of system is not so good when installed further south why :dizzy2:. I work as a trainer/Lecturer in plumbing so have access to a lot of other information regarding renewables but have been unable to source a lot of feedback regarding this type of system. Is it because it is possibly one of the new technologies and as such is not trustworthy, it is not been test driven enough or is there another reason?

 

[Jimbob]

Iv worked on a couple TD systems. Both get ok COPs

No doubt you'll get a great COP in direct sunlight but when that's gone, the actual surface area for evaporating the fgas is small compared to ASHP and gshp in my opinion.

 

[Scotsplum]

Iv worked on a couple TD systems. Both get ok COPs

No doubt you'll get a great COP in direct sunlight but when that's gone, the actual surface area for evaporating the fgas is small compared to ASHP and gshp in my opinion.

I have had the advantage of seeing inside an ASHP and the area devoted to claiming the heat out of the air is actually quite smaller than the area given to the Thermodynamic Panel where it could possibly pick more heat is the increased air flow due to the fan but given that action the fan takes energy to run it whereas the panel does not I believe that would make it less efficient. I agree with you a GSHP certainly has a larger area than a panel therefore it would claim more heat and therefore would be a more efficient system although it is quite a bit more expensive if you require a bore hole rather than land trenching. I thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

[Jimbob]

But if you broke the evaporator down to its thin ally strips I'm sure the effective surface area would be larger, but then you could be right.

 

[Dickie]

Given the cost & pay back period, standard solar thermal would be much better. Also, for simple technoligy you can't beat it.

The latest research has shown Co2 as being the best refrigerant gas, so I wouldn't let the Greenwash Used Carsalesmen sell me anything less!

 

[Worcester]

Iv worked on a couple TD systems. Both get ok COPs

No doubt you'll get a great COP in direct sunlight but when that's gone, the actual surface area for evaporating the fgas is small compared to ASHP and gshp in my opinion.

Actuall COP's rather than 'quite good' would help. The reason this product was thrown out of MCS was that they got certification based on a solar panel rather than what it actually - an air source heat pump. You need a COP of well in excess of 2.5 to make it better solution than a condensing gas boiler..

To date the manufacturers have refused to submit their systems for independant performance tests (despite one testing body offering to do it for free if they supplied the supplied and installed systems at their test facility) also the manufactuers either won't or can't provide comprehensive CoP and SPF data for their systems as they would be installed in the UK. Until then we won't install them, if and when certified CoP and SPF data, and it stacks up, then we will offer it.

So if anyone has got real CoP data - metered inputs, metered outputs, climate data etc, then please lets have it

 

[Worcester]

The Japanese are getting some phenomenal CoP's from ASHP's using CO2.

Net effect - they are beating up DECC at the moment over the domestic RHI SpF figures for their prodcusts and pushing them to use real figures as opposed to generic tables irrespective of make / model / installer ...

It's diffcult to get an ASHP to stack up against an oil boiler under the current domestic RHI proposals.

 

[eaton]

Don't think any of the cylinders have been issued g3 tickets either, mate has one on trial and says its ok! Nothing more, said an ashp would run more cost efficient. Issue I have is as worcestor said, no one wants to release figures, ie how much does the heat pump inside cost to run etc