UPDATE: TripleAqua heat pump system, a new, CO₂ neutral way of heating and cooling buildings

The 6^th edition of ATMOsphere Europe, which took place on 16 & 17 March 2015 in Brussels, Belgium, served as a platform for the official launch of the TripleAqua system. Menno Van der Hoff, Research & Development HVAC Manager at Uniechemie, presented the pioneering system, a highly efficient, natural refrigerant climate system that not only enables building managers to independently heat and cool different rooms as required, but features passive waste heat and cold storage. The TripleAqua will be sold by the Beijer Ref, one of the largest distributors of HVAC & Refrigeration units in Europe.

Optimisation of thermal storage energy achieved with TripleAqua

The heating and cooling of buildings is responsible for up 40% of CO₂ emissions. Traditional heat pumps represent a good solution for cooling and heating whilst reducing the impact on the environment. However, the TripleAqua goes further, by adding the possibility to temporarily store surplus heat or cold.

This means that not only is the system able to heat and cool even if demands are not simultaneous, it can store the remaining energy inside the system for passive reuse at a later stage, optimising the thermal energy transfer.

Heat, cool and store in one go. TripleAqua is a new, revolutionary natural heat pump system, Van der Hoff explained at ATMOsphere Europe.

Outdoor heat pump with economically designed water routes

The outdoor heat pump operates with the climate-friendly refrigerant propæne 433A (a mix of R290 propane and R1270 propene), with a charge of less than 5kg, and three pipelines for hot (28 – 36°C) and cool (12 - 18°C) water and a return pipe for water at ambient temperature. Thanks to its water-based loop design no coolant enters the building, ensuring system safety. Inside the building heating and cooling is provided by slim-line horizontally and vertically installed units equipped with self-regulating water control valves.

Summary of key features of the TripleAqua system:

• Uses pure natural refrigerant propæne
• Water transports energy around the building, ensuring safety
• Internal thermal storage and shift of heating and cooling
• Double efficiency achieved as the heat pump can heat and cool simultaneously
• Extra 120% capacity for emergencies
• Can directly be connected to all common sources of thermal energy, ground storage and district heating systems
• Can be combined with heat heating, chill beams, heat recovery, air hanging units, ground source, free cooling and green thermal electrical grids.

Full package of controls as standard

The TripleAqua has an external unit that autonomously controls all tasks with its own arithmetic processor. The full package of controls (provided without purchasing additional options) include functions such as speed and capacity control, energy measurements, sensors, door surveillance, CO₂ measurement input, clock, day/night/weekend, emergency heating, communication with GBS, VING card, fresh air, CO₂ control, and more.

Tripleaqua has thermal internal storage for cooling and it can simultaneously heat and cool to double the efficiency with water moving the energy around. Van der Hoff said.

Lower maintenance costs and ease of use

TripleAqua combines the advantages of VRF fan coil systems and allows for significant reductions in construction costs of 25%. It also reduces operation costs by at least 50% compared to traditional heat pumps. What is more, the TripleAqua is easy to install, easy to use and uses standard components that are readily available on the market.

Exclusive video interview at ATMOsphere Europe 2015 with Menno Van der Hoff.