Green Energy: Heat Pumps

FCL Components relays: Heat pump installation and the green energy transition

Seen as essential to the global adoption of green energy, the market for heat pumps is surging. With annual sales predicted to reach 7 million in the EU alone, heat pumps are set to be used in many residential and commercial settings. FCL Components is ready to support the growing heat pump market with its range of power and signal relays, engineered to meet the various needs of heat pump units.

Supporting the transition

In recent years, the European Union has stepped up its efforts to minimize the use of fossil fuels within the energy market, offering financial incentives to support the rollout of renewable energy solutions, including heat pumps. In December 2022, the EU introduced a new carbon tax on heating emissions. The legislation is set to drive further investment into alternative energy production and low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps.

For most of the built environment, HVAC systems are a major consumer of energy, responsible for 35-40% of a building’s energy usage. To increase the energy efficiency of an HVAC system, new greener methods of heating, like heat pumps, are being pursued. They work by capturing heat from the outside environment, compressing it to raise its temperature further, and then transferring it inside the building.

With many power plants decarbonizing, electric grids are becoming greener. The direction of travel is toward carbon-free energy sources including solar, wind, water, and other renewables. Green products, such as electric heat pumps, present an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, as well as the assistance of policymakers, the heat pump market will also require technological support. FCL Components is ready to provide this through its relay solutions.

FCL Components relays in action

Relays are fundamental to the correct functioning of a heat pump, regulating the power to various parts of the HVAC system. FCL Components has investigated the requirements of the industry and composed a line-up of suitable relays for various types of heat pump. For example, the FCL Components FTR-B4 relay is designed to work with the thermostat component of a heat pump, combining an ultra-miniature size with low rates of power consumption. The NY relay, meanwhile, is designed to work within a high operating temperature range. Collectively, FCL Components' various relays are created to meet the functionality, size, and compliance needs of each heat pump unit.

The fan motor of a heat pump’s outdoor unit, which extracts heat from the air, is switched on or off by a relay - like those mentioned above. This relay needs to be capable of switching power at a rating of 5A at 250VAC. This essentially describes how much current the relay contacts can safely turn on and off. As the heat pump’s refrigerant heats up and reaches its boiling point, the gases evaporate and are distributed to the compressor. The compressor uses a 16A, 250VAC Relay - FCL Components' FTR-K1.

The compressed gases make their way to the condenser where they raise the temperature of the heating element. The heating element can be switched by a 16A, 250VAC relay, such as FCL Components' FTR-K1 relay. The heating element distributes its warmth to the pumped-through water, with the pump’s switching controlled through FCL Components' JS 8A, 250VAC relay.

FCL Components' contribution to the net-zero target

Globally, heat pumps could reduce carbon emissions by as much as 500 million tons by 2030 – equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of all cars in Europe today. Unfortunately, as of 2021, just 10% of the world’s space heating needs were met by heat pumps.

The provision of more robust, efficient relay technology will only help drive the installation of heat pump units further. FCL Components is on hand to help with this, streamlining the transition to a low-carbon economy.

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