New Style of HPWH
 

Saw this linked to on another Forum and thought it was interesting. It seems one of the main complaints of HPWH's is that it pulls the heat out of your house if installed in a basement like they usually are. This solves that, unfortunately I don't think it's available here yet.

Rheem HPWH: MPs-325 Split Heat Pump - Rheem Australia Water Heaters

Here's another system, which seems to offer the efficiency of a typical heat pump but has a water HX in the inside unit instead of the typical air HX.
http://www.electromn.com/storage/NL202.pdf

I mainly wanted to share the Rheem HP, wonder why we don't have that here?

Adam

Great find...

We can make this stuff from discarded parts.

-AC_Hacker

I know, actually it's pretty close to what Xringer originally wanted to do with his spare Sanyo, just already packaged up. Not everyone's got the ambition to tackle it themselves.

Adam

You aren't gonna believe what I just bought off of Craigs List...

I just got an ASHP that heats water! It is a unit that is meant to be plumbed into a hot water heater. It is a 12,000 BTU unit that has no tank. You supply the tank. In the event that the ASHP can't supply the amount of heat (because the air temp is too low), it turns the function of making hot water over to resistance heat.


The guy I bought it from paid $1,400 for it new, and he tried to use it to do hydronic heating... only thing is he followed the 'normal' rules of thumb for a hydronic (wide PEX spacings, staple up, etc.) system that is going to use fossil fuel and can supply feed temperatures in the range of 160F. He did staple up, spreader plates, etc. Trouble is his heat pump can only supply water up to 125F. So his system never kept the house warm and comfortable.

So, long story short, the unit is a couple of years old, and I got it for $400.

And I have been insulating my house and researching floor configurations and testing computer models for feed temperatures in the range of 95F... This thing can happen!

-AC_Hacker

Nice Craigslist find. Years ago I had looked at buying one of those E-tech units, but got scared away at the price.

What a steal!! :)
 

Wow, the Holy Grail of ASHPs!! You lucky dog!!


They also made a little one..
http://cdn.greenoptions.com/d/d8/800...ted%281%29.jpg

Looks like a kid's toy, when compared!

So, does that monster have a pump on the hotwater side? Or will you need to add one?

Is that blue area the input filter? Will you be able to connect up duct work?

Yes, it does have a built-in pump.

I really only saw it 'in the flesh' for a minute, about a week or so ago, so I can't really say for sure.

These and a lot of other problems are yet to be worked out. I noticed that the current owner (I'll pick it up on Tuesday) has it vented to the outside... I'm guessing that he has the input & output both going outside.

I'd really like to put it in an enclosure, outside with freeze protection. I don't know if the compressor has a built in heater like the mini-split units do, so there may be problems with that approach. I've really gotten used to the kind of quiet that mini-splits give you.

The weather here is such that air conditioning isn't needed very much. I have a good bit of figuring out to do.

-AC_Hacker

Heating of the compressor looks like an add-on to me.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Fall2010-1.jpg
The two white connectors at the bottom hook up to a heat-wire that wraps around the compressor's base.
There is a short coil spring mechanically connected to heat-wire end loops, to keep it tight.
The 18k BTUh version of this unit, (AC/HP) does not even use this heater.

My point is, you might be able to add a crankcase heater for cheap money.
That is, if you even needed a heater.

If you find a pdf manual online, please post the URL for us..
And of course you could post some pics with the top cover off..
If you could be so kind.. :)

Thanks,

Here is some info:
On-line record of the attempt he (Tom) made to get radiant heating out of the unit.
product data sheet
installation instructions

I talked to Tom some more about his attempt, turns out that he tried to do radiant ceiling, heat spreader plates and about 6" of cellulose above.

PEX was about 8" centers.

-AC_Hacker

WOW thats a great find, more might be coming up, discontinued in 2010, r22 based unit
Major envy