30 September 2021
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The twin Carrier heat pumps are installed in the plant room
A high-efficiency heat pump system from Carrier is being used to dry premium feed in demand by UK racehorse breeders and trainers.
Two 1.5MW heat pumps were installed to dry the Lucerne hay at a specialist farm near Coventry by OMNI Heat and Power.
Installed with support under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, the hay drying facility uses two AquaForce water-source variable-speed screw heat pumps to upgrade energy extracted from a series of boreholes, which tap an underground aquifer. The Carrier heat pumps upgrade the water temperature from 0°C from the boreholes to 35°C exiting the system. It is then used to evenly and consistently dry the hay.
Bales of hay being dried at the farm near Coventry
To further enhance efficiency, the heat pumps are equipped with Carrier’s Greenspeed intelligence inverter drive and control system, which matches the speed of the compressor to the current load. This optimises performance, reduces energy use, cuts carbon emissions, and minimises running costs for customers
Carrier says the project demonstrates its capability to support innovative, efficient solutions to help meet its aim of reducing customers' carbon footprint by more than one gigaton, part of Carrier’s 2030 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Goals.
“The system is highly efficient and enables an excellent conversion of the ground source energy into useable heat,” said Bradley Martin, director of OMNI Heat and Power. “We worked closely with Carrier, who provided timely technical support during the project.”
The successful installation has led to more heat pump projects by OMNI Heat and Power around the UK using Carrier heat pumps to harness a range of renewable energy sources.
Pipework and pumps controlling flow and return for the river water
“We believe heat pumps are a technology whose time has come,” said Martin. “They make use of ‘free’ energy, cutting running costs for end users and reducing carbon emissions into the environment. It is a win-win for all concerned. I have no doubt that heat pumps will play a key role in the decarbonisation of the UK’s heating infrastructure in the years ahead.”
