Why this heat pump uses propane as a refrigerant.
Heating System Retrofit with an OVUM Air-Source Heat Pump and a Solar PV Plant
An oil-fired heating system with a tank capacity of approximately 4,000 liters was replaced by an OVUM air-source heat pump using R290 and combined with a photovoltaic system.
Fossil fuels are no longer used; heat and electricity are integrated as part of a single system.
Reference from MECO GmbH.
From an oil tank to a heat pump with a natural refrigerant
Previously, an oil-fired heating system with a 4,000-liter tank met the building’s heating needs. MECO oversaw the renovation from planning through installation. The old plant was replaced by an OVUM R290 air-source heat pump that uses the natural refrigerant propane. The plant is supplemented by a 10.4 kWp photovoltaic system and a battery storage unit for self-consumption of electricity.
OVUM Heat Pump
Uses propane, a natural refrigerant, instead of synthetic refrigerants.
Solar Power Plant (10.4 kWp)
Generates electricity that can be used to power the heat pump.
Battery Storage
Stores excess solar power for later personal use.
MIRA Plus Controller
Standard system control for the OVUM heat pump.
What R290 Means as a Refrigerant
The heat pump uses propane (refrigerant designation R290) instead of synthetic refrigerants. An existing underfloor heating system is used for heating, and a water heater in the utility room provides hot water. The photovoltaic system with battery storage covers part of the heat pump’s electricity needs.
Implemented by an OVUM partner company
The removal of the oil-fired heating system, the installation of the heat pump, and the integration of the PV plant and battery storage were all handled by a single point of contact.