Central heating installation with heat pump - is driven only during off:peak tariff hours and has heat storage facility

摘要

A central heating and cooling system is operated by a heat pump, and has distribution networks for both heated and chilled water. The heat pump operates only intermittently, preferably on cheap-rate electricity, but the heating and cooling may be supplied continuously. The heat pump is driven hard enough to produce storable heat and cold. In addition, storage is provided for used hot water, which serves as a source of heat the next time the heat pump is operated, and is then discarded. The system is preferably adapted to varying seasonal requirements by regulating the speed of the heat pump motor. It is intended to produce temperatures high enough for some cooking, as well as washing, etc., and low enough for refrigerator and deep-freeze.