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Colmac HPW water source heat pumps offer commercial and industrial users of sanitary hot water, an energy efficient means of heating water to temperatures as high as 176°F. Colmac heat pump water heaters use the same operating principle as an air-conditioner or domestic refrigerator. The heat pump gathers heat from a warm water source, and through the refrigeration cycle, deposits the heat into sanitary water at a useable temperature. This principle of moving heat with a heat pump, rather than generating it by burning fossil fuel (i.e. natural gas), or electric resistance, makes water heating with heat pumps the best choice for conserving energy. Depending on the temperature of the heat source supplied to the heat pump, water can be heated using one third to one fourth of the energy required by electric resistance, or gas.

Colmac water source heat pumps use waste heat in the form of any filtered, non-corrosive, pressurized stream of liquid at temperatures as low as 50°F.

Building hydronic loop water, return chilled water, condenser or cooling tower water, geothermal loops or wells, and industrial process water are a few of the possible heat sources that can be utilized by the HPW heat pump.

Product Line Performance Comparison 50 Hz:

Note: Based on 30°C source water temperature, 20°C entering potable water temperature and 60°C leaving potable water temperature.

Product Line Performance Comparison 60 Hz:

Note: Based on 85°F source water temperature, 70°F entering potable water temperature and 140°F leaving potable water temperature.
         *HPW2 Based on 70°F Potable Water Inlet, 140°F Potable Water Outlet, 70°F Source Water.

Water Source Heat Pump Basics

Energy from a pressurized liquid stream is absorbed by refrigerant in the evaporator causing the refrigerant to change phase from a liquid to a gas. This gas refrigerant is then compressed by a compressor which adds temperature and pressure to the refrigerant. The high temperature, high pressure refrigerant gas is then condensed to a liquid in a condenser where energy is traded from the refrigerant to sanitary water suitable for human consumption. Finally, the high pressure, liquid refrigerant is passed through an expansion valve which causes the refrigerant pressure and temperature to drop so it can once again enter the evaporator and absorb energy from the liquid source.

To maximize the efficiency of a water source heat pump, you want to provide the warmest liquid with highest specific heat and try to deliver the lowest sanitary water temperature acceptable. This minimizes the compressor work which is the largest operational cost associated with a heat pump.