Reversible Heat Pumps
Reversible heat pumps are an energy-efficient, all-in-one system that provides both heating and cooling. These systems are an increasingly popular choice for modern commercial buildings, offering a flexible and efficient solution for year-round temperature control. By using the same core plant, they meet the growing demand for comfort cooling in well-insulated and urban developments, alongside the need for low-carbon heating.
Clade designs, manufactures, installs and maintains reversible heat pumps for commercial buildings. For more information on our range, get in touch today.
What Are Reversible Heat Pumps?
A reversible heat pump is a system capable of operating in both heating and cooling modes. This is achieved through a reversing valve, which allows the direction of refrigerant flow within the system to change depending on demand.
In heating mode, the heat pump extracts low-grade heat from the external air and upgrades it to a useful temperature for space heating and, where required, domestic hot water. In cooling mode, the cycle is reversed, removing heat from the building and rejecting it to the outside air.
Reversible heat pumps are most commonly configured as:
- Air-to-water systems, supplying heated or chilled water to emitters such as underfloor heating, radiators or fan coil units
- Air-to-air systems, delivering warm or cool air directly to occupied spaces
The ability to switch between heating and cooling allows a single system to respond to seasonal and operational changes in building demand.
Benefits of Reversible Heat Pumps
- Combined Heating and Cooling: Reversible heat pumps remove the need for separate heating and cooling plant. This can simplify system layouts, reduce plant space requirements, and allow a more integrated approach to building services design.
- High Operational Efficiency: Modern systems typically use inverter-driven compressors and variable-speed components, enabling the heat pump to modulate output in line with demand. This improves seasonal performance and reduces unnecessary energy consumption at part load.
- Lower Carbon Operation: As electrically driven systems, reversible heat pumps avoid on-site combustion and can deliver significantly lower operational carbon emissions than gas-fired heating systems. Their carbon performance improves further as grid electricity continues to decarbonise.
- Improved Thermal Comfort: The ability to provide both heating and active cooling helps maintain comfortable internal temperatures throughout the year. This is increasingly important in highly insulated buildings where internal heat gains and solar gains can lead to summer overheating.
- System Flexibility: Reversible heat pumps can be integrated with a range of heat distribution systems, including low-temperature emitters and fan coil units. This makes them suitable for a wide variety of building types and project requirements.
Commercial Reversible Heat Pump Applications
Reversible heat pumps are well suited to commercial buildings with variable heat gains and year-round comfort requirements. Typical applications include offices, education and healthcare facilities, industrial buildings, factories, retail environments and warehouses. These buildings often require efficient space heating in winter alongside active cooling to manage internal and solar heat gains. Reversible heat pumps can be applied in both new-build and retrofit projects, particularly where low-temperature heating systems are specified and a single, integrated solution for heating and cooling is preferred.
Clade Engineering offers air, ground, and water source heat pumps and refrigeration that use eco-friendly CO2 coolant and can operate either singly or as part of a multi-unit system.
REVERSIBLE HEAT PUMP SERVICES
We deliver complete reversible heat pump solutions, from efficient design and manufacturing to expert installation and maintenance. As a UK leader in green heating, we provide ultra-low carbon, future-proof systems that reduce emissions across sectors, ensuring long-term, high-performance heating for businesses of all sizes.
FAQs About Reversible Heat Pumps
Yes. Air-to-water reversible heat pumps can be designed to provide space heating, cooling and domestic hot water, subject to appropriate system design, storage capacity and temperature requirements.
Yes. Modern reversible heat pumps are designed to operate effectively in UK climates, providing reliable heating performance in winter and cooling capability during warmer periods.
The refrigeration cycle is similar, but reversible heat pumps are typically integrated into a wider building services system. Cooling is often delivered via chilled water to fan coil units or other emitters rather than traditional split air conditioning systems.
This depends on the existing emitters, operating temperatures and overall heat demand of the building. A detailed assessment is required to confirm suitability and performance.
They do require electrical input, but their high efficiency means they deliver significantly more heating or cooling energy than the electricity they consume. System design and electrical infrastructure should be considered as part of the overall project strategy.
CONTACT US
Speak with our team of experts and discuss your requirements. Complete this quick form and we will be in touch or contact us using:
Bristol & Bath Science Park
Dirac Crescent, Emersons Green
Bristol, BS16 7FR