Technical

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Technical

  1. Can Daikin Altherma provide COOLING also?

    • Yes there is an indoor model (X) that can provide Heating / Sanitary hot water and cooling.

      It is ideal for stable weather countries such as Spain, South France, Southern Italy where during summer there will be no requirements for heating unlike the UK. Please see Q2.

  2. Is heating and cooling Daikin Altherma suitable for UK applications?
      1. The majority of the time it is not suitable as the classical heat emitters in the UK are radiators or underfloor heating. To have cooling, you must bear in mind that there will be condensation and this needs to be collected and disposed of. Therefore, it is more suitable for applications where the use of fan coils have built-in trays. Further more, control of the operation is very critical and requires more understanding than is expected.
      2. Due to almost hourly temperature fluctuating in the UK during all seasons. the Daikin Altherma, when used for heating and cooling, will not be an efficient option, as the heating circuit will be running at 40° - 50°C, whilst in cooling it will need to be 7°C. The Daikin Altherma has to cool the water in the system from 40/50°C and with a sudden change in the weather it will try to heat from 7°C to 40/50°C.
      3. If the Daikin Altherma is providing sanitary hot water also, this will take priority over cooling and will exaggerate item 2 above.
      4. Solutions: Due to the low requirements of cooling. it will be cheaper, more economical, a faster response and more energy efficient to use a Split Inverter reversible air-to-air heat pump. This will not only be more flexible and responsive but will also be more energy efficient and provide extra capacity to support the Altherma; if the Altherma; is selected tightly.
  3. Which air source heat pump is better, a split type or packaged?

    • A split type is more efficient as:

      1. The speed of transfer of heat from outside to inside is much faster than water (almost 20 times)
      2. The heat loss from the pipes is less due to smaller sizes (almost half the size of water)
      3. The pressure drop in the pipe is less due to having gas transferred as against liquid (water)
      4. Can have much longer pipe run with little loss (heat and pressure drop), means can be remotely mounted from the building for aesthetic reasons.
      5. No danger of freezing compared with water.
      6. Controlling heating and hot water temperature (excellent feature) is quicker and more accurate as response to heat exchanger demand can be met instantly.
  4. In a Split type (indoor and outdoor part) there are two methods of connecting between them, water pipe work or refrigerant, which is better?

    • Connecting between indoor and outdoor via Refrigeration pipe work is better and more energy efficient for the following reasons:

      1. The need for water circulating pump between indoor and out is eliminated. Daikin Altherma Split only require one circulating pump for the primary heating and hot water circuit while systems with water systems with water connection between indoor and outdoor will need at least two pumps. The pump supplied is a Wilo pump and can be set as normal central heating pump. 2/3 speed.
      2. The refrigerant in the pipe does not need treatment against frost or addition of glycol.
      3. The refrigerant heat transfer is more efficient than water as it is faster (almost 20 times) and can carry more energy (almost 10 times) than water.
      4. Refrigerant pipes are smaller and more flexible.
      5. Refrigerant pipe does not require venting or special requirements during installation. Water does.
      6. The interconnecting pipe work length between indoor and outdoor with refrigerant pipe is much longer (30m size 6,7,8. 75m size 11,14,16)
      7. Pressure drop of refrigerant pipe is considerably less than water. Less volume, gas from [against liquid] and smoother pipe.
  5. Do I need special power supply for Daikin Altherma?

    • No, as the Daikin Altherma has inverter driven compressor and fan(s) and therefore no starting current. A standard house hold power supply is 100 amps.

      The starting current of Daikin Altherma (refrigerant cycle) is less than the running current. (max starting is 10 amps).

      The total power supply for an Daikin Altherma system (indoor including 3KW backup heater, outdoor, controls and circulating pump) is 30 amp for sizes 6,7,8 and 40 amp sizes 11,14,16.)

      The 3 kW Tank heater (standard on all tanks) require an extra 13 amps.

  6. What is an Inverter? And what are it's advantages?

    • Inverter: Converting direct current into alternating current by changing the frequency of the electrical supply to a motor hence changing the speed according.

      Inverter Control: Changing the speed of the compressor motor to match the capacity of the system via electronic sensing of the temperature and pressures.

      Advantages:

      • Reduced stop and start due to over-dimensioning*
      • Reduced starting current (less than running current)
      • Stable temperature control
      • Accurate and fast response to demand (Already running)
      • Reduced defrosting cycle frequency
      • Reduced power supply installation cost
      • Improved efficiencies at low ambient temperatures
      • Increased life expectancy (stable operation)
      • Reduced maintenance and service cost
      • Energy savings up to 50% on non inverter systems

      *Over dimensioning (over sized) occur as the heat pump produces more energy as the ambient or ground temperature increase, while the dwelling heating requirements is less. (see 30-50% savings graph between Inverter and non inverter).

      Note: Over dimensioning can also occur with normal fossil fuel boiler (gas, oil, LPG) also. This will reduce the efficiency especially if CONDENSING boilers, as this type of boiler rely on condensation to achieve the claimed efficiency. Often stopping and starting will not provide necessary condensation.

      All Daikin Inverter control (Including Daikin Altherma) Complies with CE Low Voltage 73 / 23 / EEC, machinery safety 98 / 37 / EEC and Electromagnetic Compatibility 89 / 336 / EEC.

  7. Do I need any additional controls?

    • No, The Daikin Altherma split air to water heat pump comes complete with all necessary controls and can be set and monitored via the User Interface Controller (UIC). The controller is attached to the indoor Hydrobox (HB) and can be relocated remotely up to 50 meters for convenience.

      The UIC provides two main functions, setting and monitoring/display.

      Setting:

      • Heating: 7 Day time clock with 5 programs per week day. Allows setting of temperature, ON, OFF and floating temperature.
      • Hot water: 7 day time clock with 5 programs per day. Allows setting of ON/OFF.
      • Low Noise: 7 day time clock allows setting of quite mode time (reduces noise level by up to 6dBA).
      • Tank immersion heater: 7 day time clock with 5 settings. Allows desired time when immersion heater allowed to come on.
      • Manual Heating temperature (20 - 55°C)
      • Manual Sanitary Hot water temperature ( up to 80°C)
      • Heating floating temperature. Allows heating water temperature to float according to ambient temperature (user set parameters).
      • Priority adjustments. Heating, hot water.
      • Legionella control temperature. Compulsory once a week with user set temperature (60 - 80°C), period on, time and day of the week.
      • Over 9 variation of operating parameter to suit individual applications.

      Monitoring and display:

      • Heating and Sanitary hot water temperatures (set, return, supply)
      • Operations of Compressor, Circulating pump, backup heater and tank heater.
      • Ambient temperature.
      • Current Time and day of week.
      • Fault indication and diagnostics.

      Other features:

      • Auto restart after power failure. ( Not regular power off and on)
      • Remote fault and ON indication (optional pcb)
      • Remote thermostat (optional)
      • Solar kit interface (optional)
  8. What space do I need for the outdoor unit? (A)

    • The outdoor heat absorbing unit only needs an outside wall, where it can be situated on a bracket, which can be up to 30 meters away from the indoor unit (Hydro-box). The outdoor unit is 735Hx825Wx300D (mm) (weight 56kg).

  9. What space do I need for the indoor unit? (B)

    • The indoor unit (Hydro-box) can be situated anywhere in the property, loft, cupboard, under the stairs or simply where your conventional boiler was positioned before. The Hydo-box does not need to be on an outside wall as it has no need for flues or ventilation. 875Hx490Wx300D (mm) (weight 61kg).

  10. What is a cascade system?

    • Daikin's unique cascade compressor approach to the heat pumps (one refrigerant cycle in the outdoor unit and one in the indoor unit), enables the water temperature to be increased up to 80°C, without the need for a back up heater. Rapid heating for domestic hot water allows for a smaller storage cylinder.