What is aerothermal energy?

If you are wondering what aerothermal energy is, how it works, if it is truly sustainable and efficient, and what the advantages and disadvantages are for HVAC systems, you have come to the right place. This is a revolutionary concept that seeks to improve the efficiency of heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and domestic hot water production systems.

In this article by Inditer, we will explain what aerothermal energy is and how it works in very simple terms, the types and applications in which you can find it, and a comparison against systems such as air conditioning—which one is better?

 

Aerothermal energy: what is it?

It is a system that harnesses energy from a space to provide heat or cooling to the interior of a building and to domestic water. It uses heat pumps and a refrigerant liquid, performing the necessary energy exchange to provide the appropriate temperature for the space, the water, and refrigeration equipment.

The location, regardless of its temperature, contains energy that is absorbed by the system and used in the process. For this reason, it will use fewer kW of electrical energy. The percentage of use for each of these two energy sources will depend on the equipment used, but it can be said that for every kW consumed, it produces up to 5 thermal kW.

Most of these systems can extract up to 80% of the energy from the environment. It is, therefore, an alternative for the operation of boilers that work with gas, coal, and other fuels. It works similarly to other known equipment, but its advantages make a significant difference.

The concept of aerothermal energy is used in state-of-the-art equipment as they do not require large installations or complex power supply systems.

 

 

The refrigerant liquid travels through the circuit; meanwhile, the energy required for the process is taken from the space. The compressor is responsible for raising the temperature and pressure of the liquid, and the expansion valve reduces the temperature and pressure.

As the temperature of the refrigerant liquid rises or falls, it uses or releases it at different points in the cycle, which is harnessed to generate heat or cold, as required, in radiators or boilers.

Aerothermal energy even allows heat to be transferred to a building’s water circuits in winter, which helps create a pleasant thermal sensation at a low cost. Best of all, this system reverses to produce a cool environment in the summer.

Aerothermal equipment uses outdoor units, similar to those found in standard air conditioning systems.

 

Applications of aerothermal energy

Aerothermal energy can be used in various spaces where thermal exchange is required. For example, it is very useful for spaces where radiators are used. It can even be integrated into underfloor heating systems, which require water at low temperatures to climate-control spaces.

The energy required in these systems is used for the correct operation of the compressor. Alongside aerothermal energy, which is the utilization of environmental energy, it is also possible to use outdoor heat to transfer it to the domestic hot water generation system.

 

Types of aerothermal energy

To further understand what aerothermal energy is, it is important to know the types of operation you can find in this system.

→ What is air-to-air aerothermal energy?

Using energy from the environment, cold air is taken from the outside and heated before being released inside a room, where it will help increase the thermal sensation. It works in the opposite way to cool spaces, as heat will be taken from inside the room to perform the process and the heat will be released outside.

With this exchange, aerothermal energy translates into a perfect environment.

→ What is air-to-water aerothermal energy?

This system works like the air-to-air system, with the difference that heat is not released into the environment but into a water tank that will supply radiators or pipes. The same circuit can be used to produce both effects: increasing or reducing the ambient temperature and generating domestic hot water.

 

Which is better: aerothermal energy or air conditioning?

What differentiates traditional climate control systems from aerothermal energy is consumption. Definitely, using the energy within a space results in significant energy savings, which can range from 30% to 50% off regular expenses. It is important that frequent maintenance is performed so that the equipment provides this level of efficiency.

We could say that, although they work similarly, for reasons of savings, the aerothermal system is better.

 

Advantages and disadvantages of aerothermal energy

Now that we know what aerothermal energy is and how it works, let’s look at some of its advantages and disadvantages.

Economic Advantages

• It truly provides economic advantages because, by using energy from the air as mentioned before, it substantially reduces the use of electrical energy and energy from other fuels, which translates into lower bills. This is confirmed by several studies on the operation of aerothermal energy.

Ecological Advantages

• Aerothermal energy is a type of renewable energy since it takes its main energy source from the air and ultimately releases energy. Furthermore, the reduction in electricity consumption is also favorable for the environment. It is an effective way to provide different services with a simple and efficient system.

Maintenance Advantages

• The aerothermal system does not produce smoke, gas, or ash, making the cleaning of the outlet areas simpler. This does not mean that this equipment requires no maintenance, but the task is easier. Additionally, this is also one of the ways in which aerothermal energy becomes a more planet-friendly alternative and more respectful of the locations where the outdoor units are situated.

Disadvantages

• The initial investment in these types of systems is usually high. For this reason, many users are discouraged since money is always an important factor when deciding which climate control system to use. However, the return on investment is real, thanks to the savings it provides.
• It is also not very efficient in extremely cold climate zones, as the energy that can be harnessed from a cold environment is lower. Its efficiency can be increased if some measure is used to prepare the air used by the outdoor unit. This involves a higher investment.
• It requires one or more outdoor units, which is a concern for many users due to the aesthetic change this brings. Although traditional systems also use this type of equipment, having a considerable number of outdoor units in view can clash with the building’s aesthetics.

 

We hope this article has been useful for learning what aerothermal energy is. Now you can make the decision to use this and other types of ecological systems in your facilities, such as solar aerothermal heaters, so that you save while protecting the planet.

If you would like more information about the different systems and to know if they are right for your needs, you can contact our team of professionals.