30 November 2023
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The Exi-tite heat pump packaged system
HVAC equipment supplier Exi-tite has developed a self-contained potable hot water system using the latest heat pump technology.
The packaged system can be installed as a permanent fixture or mobile ‘plug-in’ solution across applications such as offices, hotels and student accommodation, with heating capacities ranging between 13kW and 240kW and low-GWP refrigerant options.
Prefabricated off-site, the system is designed to save time, avoid logistical complications, and reduce installation problems that occur with typical on-site works. It is constructed on a structural framework and designed to be wheeled or crane lifted into position.
Andrew Robinson, Managing Director of Exi-tite, said: “Heat pumps are being used increasingly for space heating and potable hot water, but the feedback from consultants and M&E contractors has been that when installed incorrectly, they became an expensive problem. We have managed to navigate around the majority of on-site issues and found a solution that provides peace of mind. ”
LG VRF heat pumps provide modular capacity control and redundancy, and are inverter-driven with both latent and sensible load monitoring. Each Multi V i system is connected to a high-temperature hydro kit, capable of producing water temperatures up to 80°C and provide 100% heating capacity down to -7°C, reducing the increase in capital costs associated with oversizing equipment to accommodate typical losses.
Mark Brown, Group Sales Director at Exi-tite, said: “Our first packaged hot water system has just been delivered to a project in Leeds and has been designed to provide 100kW capacity split into four 25kW stages. We have provided a 1650-litre energy bank and can provide 1800 l/hr of usable potable water, raising from a mains cold supply to 60°C with a 7-minute recovery time of the energy bank.
“We chose LG Multi V i heat pumps because they offer an enhanced corrosion resistance coating and continuous heating operating without entering a complete defrost. This means that hot water production is always available, which is a significant requirement from our customers.”
One of four LG high temperature hydrokits provide load staging
The method of hot water generation differs from typical systems that store potable water. When storing water, pasteurisation is required as a legionella prevention method and this typically impacts the system's operating efficiency and requires additional control strategies. Because the packaged Exi-tite system heats cold mains water directly through a heat exchanger without storage, pasteurisation is unnecessary and the need for salt-based softeners is also eliminated.
The system is plug-and-play, arriving with its own localised control, but is also pre-wired for connection to a building management system and pre-piped with connections to the cold water main, hot water supply and optional circulation loop.
An integrated energy bank provides means to generate instantaneous potable hot water without the need for pasteurisation
