Gledhill have led the way in developing the concept of
thermal stores
since 1980. The latest version has been designed to get the
best possible
performance from a heat pump in a unit capable of being
linked to other
alternative energy sources such as wood burning stoves or
solar thermal
panels. There are numerous other possible installation
options (e.g.
heating taken directly from the heat pump. These are shown
in detail in
the
installation manual).
The
true significance of a thermal store in these circumstances
should not
be
underestimated;
• The store is safe to use with a wood burning stove.
• Energy put
into the store from whatever source can be used for both
heating and hot water.
• There is no requirement for a pressure and temperature
relief valve, there
is therefore no need to design safe discharge facilities
into the property.
• A thermal store can operate with less “on-peak” top up
than an
unvented cylinder when heat pumps are used as the main
energy input.
a
heat pump, it is necessary to raise the temperature (often
by electric
immersion heaters) to thermally disinfect the storage vessel
and this
effectively lowers the efficiency of the heat pump.
If a
wood burning stove is used with a thermal store there is
often no
need
to boost the temperature for hot water production. If
however, the
heat
pump will not raise the temperature sufficiently to give an
adequate
supply of hot water, the Torrent HP is supplied with an
immersion heater
and
a thermostatic pocket.
