Is there a slimline heat pump?

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985784#Comment_81985784

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985797#Comment_81985797

That's my point about them being coy about the footprint for the Pro.

Netexporter

I know you don't like the look of the Cosy, but have you considered that with a machine blowing horizontally, in a confined space, you are going to be recycling chilled air, which is going to hit your COP. It's not like you'll be able to see the Tellytubby, as it is hidden in an alley.

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985946#Comment_81985946

Thanks.

The Octopus one is physically too large my alley, so it's a no.

I was interested whether there are any units with side intakes/exhausts, which would thus eliminate the potential issue of recycling the same air.

Alnat1

I don't have any technical knowledge but I do have a heat pump. This is how I see it.

When the heat pump turns on, it powers a big fan (45cm in mine) which blows out the air in front of it. The effect pulls in the warmer air from behind (could work from the side too I guess)

However "slim" the unit is, it will still force the cold air forward after the heat has been extracted. In a narrow alleyway the cold air would hit the wall opposite the fan and bounce back. The cold air would end up being sucked back in behind the pump, making it ineffective. That is why you need a large clearance in front of the unit.

The Octopus Cosy is the only heat pump I have heard of where the fan blows the cold air in a more upwards direction, so the air circulation pattern is slightly different and it can be placed in a narrower place. There is still a requirement for a certain distance in front though.

Whatever style of heat pump you have, it will always need a decent clearance around it to work efficiently.

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987279#Comment_81987279

Your observation is correct that (almost all) current heat pumps on the market suck in air from the back and blow it out of the front.

And that implicitly requres them to have clearance at the front and rear for the airflow to work.

That is a design choice, not a rule.

My use-case doesn't fit the assumptions of that design choice.

The space between the side wall of my house and the boundary fence is 1.3m wide and I need to be able to use it for access.

Hence my question as to whether there are alternative offerings.

Alnat1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987354#Comment_81987354

It's not really a design choice though as it's the most practical design for optimum efficiency, which is why all heat pumps are made like that.

What's the reason that you don't want the heat pump at the front or back of your property and are insisting the (too narrow) space at the side is the only option?

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987595#Comment_81987595

It really is a design choice; I don't understand your question there.

Alnat1

You design one then 🤣

QrizB

It really is a design choice

Heat exchangers work best when they're large in plan area and shallow in depth. So, a heat pump will work best if air is blown through the larger sides and the shallowest thickness.

If you want one that blows "along" the wall of your house rather than to/from the wall, you'll have to mount it sideways.

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988122#Comment_81988122

Well, I'd prefer it if someone makes one which I can buy.

If you think about fan heaters, there are some which have a large frontal area set by the size of the fan and alternative slimline models (eg. this 2kW model), so there is no law of physics which mandates the large front-facing fan; all an air pump is is a fan and a heat transfer mechanism.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988136#Comment_81988136

Well, if the design premise is that it must have one large fan across the widest face, then it is self-fulfilling, along with the mount it sideways conclusion therefrom.

However, my question is whether there are alternative (viable and available) products to suit my requirements.

If there are I can look at buying; if there aren't then having one is not an option.