Is there a slimline heat pump?

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989530#Comment_81989530

Thanks - I take your point about jet aircraft; they do indeed have a bleed off the engines.

Regarding rear-engined cars, they can run 2-hour races flat-out, so any issues are solved by airflow engineering.

Regarding your last comment, I am "convinced" that most current units work in the way that most current units do; that's a plain to see given.

However, we've also had the observation that there are units emerging which take their airflow in from the side and out of the front (Valiant) or angled upwards (Octopus), so that proves that lateral airflow is achievable; how long before one appears with a lateral output too?

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989525#Comment_81989525

Unfortunately, my rear extension will be full-width of the house and effectively just shift the back wall 3m backwards, with the side wall becoming 3m longer.

I have thought about options, but they'd all involve compromising on the rooms layout, plus I'd prefer it out of sight down the side rather than dominating the back garden.

As it stands, I don't need a heat pump, but I'd like one; if they don't exist to suit my requirements then I won't bother.

prowla

Here's an American unit, the Carrier Slimline Variable Speed Condenser 38MURAQ, being shown in Los Angeles.

37" long, 16" back to front, 32" tall, 4" clearance from wall, 24" clearance sides and front = 44" total space required back to front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqvkDRU5Eq4

20" (51cm) is more than my ideal, but that would fit into my space even though it has a front fan.

Their higher power model is double the height with two fans, but with the same clearance requirements.

Since that was 3 years ago, there may well have been further improvements to space reqs.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989714#Comment_81989714

The Aerotherm Pro that we have been talking about is very close to those dimensions and has the same fan configuration, but like others on here I would doubt that it is going to be very efficient installed in a narrow space such as you describe.

matt_drummer

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989714#Comment_81989714

That is deeper than an 8kW Daikin unit, the same as I have.

https://mkm.com/product/daikin-edla08ev3-8kw-monobloc-air-source-heat-pump-r32-unit-l048869

362mm or 14.25" front to back

That Carrier is not slimline, it's just normal.

I am sure that Carrier is just a rebranded Midea heat pump.

Alnat1

" I'd prefer it out of sight down the side rather than dominating the back garden"

Think of the pro's of having it on the back, it would blow the leaves off your artificial turf!.

matt_drummer

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989675#Comment_81989675

The latest turbofan powered passenger aircraft do not use bleed air from the engines, those such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350.

They use electrical power for cabin climate control as it is more efficient than bleed air.

Modern high bypass turbo fan engines are quieter than turbojets of the past because the majority of the thrust comes from the big fan on the front of the engine. The big fan moves lots of air at a slower speed than the air from the back of a turbo jet. That air masks the noise of combustion and is quieter as it is moving more slowly.

Just like the heat pump, a big fan moving large volumes of air at a slower speed equal quieter and more efficient operation.

MWT

I think the fundamental point of contention is the desire to not see the heat-pump, or at least the belief that if it is visible at the back of the house it will "dominate the back garden".

It is a personal choice, but I'd suggest that if someone is not prepared to live with the heat-pump in plain view at the back of the house then this is probably not the way to go, attempts to hide it will all involve compromises in performance/access for maintenance etc.

These devices are not going to suit everyone.

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989788#Comment_81989788

Haha!
(I don't have artificial turf though.)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989910#Comment_81989910

Thanks for recognising that it is my personal choice.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989771#Comment_81989771

Thanks; the difference is the overall footprint, ie. how close to the wall it can go dictates the physical position of the front face:

• Daikin: 14.25"+12" = 26.25"
• Carrier: 16.5"+4" = 20.5"

If the Daikin could go 4" from the wall, then it'd be suitable.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81989834#Comment_81989834

Thanks; yes I get the concept of efficiency, but fan efficiency per-se is not a factor here.

It's about whether the unit can deliver the required airflow at all and, as we've seen the inflow at least can be implemented from the sides, so the airflow path is not a straight line along one axis.

In my case, I don't particularly care if it blows out of the front; I only suggested that when challenged to come up with an alternative "design").

matt_drummer

The Daikin and the Carrier are the same heat pumps in practical terms.

They both have the same layout of evaporator and fan.

The evaporator makes up the left side (when looking at the unit from the front) and wraps around the back of the unit as far to the right hand side as possible whilst leaving enough space inside for the other components.

There is no reason why the Daikin unit cannot go as close as the Carrier version.

The airflow will be the same.

It's just that Daikin specify it should be further from the wall, they do this so it will work properly.

There is nothing special or revolutionary about the Carrier design that means it can go tight up against a wall, it's the same as all the others

None of them will work as well as they could if you install them close to to a wall in a confined space.

They need air to move, otherwise you are trying to extract energy from air that you have already cooled down.

It won't work very well whatever the instructions say.