Guidance on installing plantroom heat pumps.

Full details are available in the Installation Manuals supplied with the product. It is important that the manual is read before any installation begins.

Kensa heat pumps are specifically designed to be installed by contractors without the need for specialist training. The key to a good heat pump application is the application engineering and is carried out by Kensa in the initial stages of the project. This allows end users to select contractors who they have a good working relationship with and reduces the cost of installation. Full technical back up is also available at anytime from Kensa.

Heat pumps should ideally be installed within a plantroom and located away from noise sensitive areas. They should be placed on a firm, level and substantial concrete base which will absorb vibration. Take into account the “Recommended Clearances” when finalising the location.

When connecting the heat pump to the heating distribution system and ground arrays, all pipe connections to the heat pump must be vibration isolated using bellows or equivalent The reason for using flexible connections is that the heat pump is suspended on anti-vibration mounts, so the connections must also be flexible.

For connection details please refer to the technical information sheets.

The heat pump itself is operated by a live return from the heating control system. Also linked to the heating control system should be the time clock and room thermostats. If the thermostats are calling for heat and the time falls within the specified heating period, then the heating control system calls on the heat pump to operate. The heat pump is also controlled on the return temperature from the heating distribution system and if this is above the heat pump’s set point the unit will turn off. For wiring diagrams please see the Installation Manuals.

Due to the high starting currents of the compressors used within heat pumps, Kensa would always recommend using a Type D Mains Circuit Breaker. This allows a high peak current for a very short period, without a type D MCB, the heat pump could continually trip the circuit board whenever it started.

Any electrical work required to install or maintain this appliance should be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician in accordance with current IEE regulations

The Kensa Plantroom range of heat pump modules are only available in three phase and can be fitted with a cooling option to provide chilled water to a distribution system. Cooling and heating can be weather compensated.

The plantroom range does not include ground or load side water pumps, as these are sized according to the application. Kensa will be happy to help with sizing issues for these pumps, however this is generally undertaken by the M & E consultant. The plantroom module is provided with a volt-free enable signal for an external ground water pump to operate.

All Kensa Plantroom Heat Pumps are supplied with Weather Compensation as standard. This facility will reduce the return water set-point against a schedule of external ambient temperatures. In more simple terms, the temperature of water flowing into the building’s radiators or underfloor heating is reduced in mild weather, which allows the heat pump to run more efficiently. The weather compensation developed by Kensa for use in their heat pumps is very sophisticated as it uses actual temperatures. In the UK, the use of banded tariffs such as Economy 7, or more especially Economy 10, makes the use of weather compensation on heat pumps unlikely to give any significant cost savings and can actually increase the cost of running a heat pump. This is because during a banded and cheaper rate of electricity it is desirable to run the heat pump at its maximum heat output so that as much heat is forced into the building as possible, whilst being careful not to overheat it in milder weather.

For this reason, Kensa Heat Pumps are supplied with this function disabled in the software.

However, tariffs might possibly change in the future and so to enable weather compensation on your heat pump you can contact our Technical department, who can run through the reprogramming procedure.

Kensa heat pumps are designed with a number of in-built sensors and probes, which enable Kensa to commission over the phone with the installer present. For large commercial projects, while it is possible for the contractor to follow the same procedure as above, if required Kensa can arrange a commissioning visit at extra cost.

It is important that before any compressors are turned on that Kensa are contacted.

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