New air-source heat pumps with innovative noise-reduction technology

New home heating and cooling devices promise quiet operation, good looks, great energy efficiency, and eligibility for government funding.

Viessmann has introduced two new air source heat pumps, the Vitocal 200-A and Vitocal 222-A, with innovative noise-reduction technology. Both operate so quietly that they are suitable for densely built-up areas such as terraced housing estates, and both have high energy efficiency with low operating costs.

With outputs of 2.3 to 11.8 kW, and with a reversible circuit within a single unit to enable switching between heating and cooling, the Vitocal 200-A and 222-A are identical except that the 222-A has an integrated 220-litre domestic hot water cylinder. The cylinder has a newly-developed inflow device to ensure exceptionally good layering, allowing a high tap volume of up to 290 litres (at 40°C).

Both heat pumps feature Viessmann’s new Advanced Acoustic Design. This combines a sound-optimised fan designed to harmonise the acoustic frequency range with intelligent speed control to reduce airborne noise at full- and partial-load operation. This effectively stifles the lower frequency sound of conventional heat pumps which can be perceived as disturbing. The result is that the pumps are barely audible: noise pressure in night mode at a distance of three is a mere 35 dB(A).

The Vitocal 220-A and 222-A are of compact monobloc design, with separate indoor and outdoor units connected by water pipes. The outdoor unit, containing one or two fans (depending on power output), is distinguished by the timeless elegance of its design and the superb finish typical of a product made in Germany. The wall-mounted indoor unit is quiet enough to be installed close to the living area. This contains a high-efficiency circulation pump, three-way changeover valve (with an effective cooling function thanks to three cooling circuits), safety group, control, and an instantaneous water heater. Maximum flow temperature is up to 60°C when the temperature outdoors is as low as -10°C.

The energy rating of both new Vitocal heat pumps is A++. The COP (Coefficient of Performance), according to the EN 14511 standard, is up to 5.0 (A7/W35) and up to 4.1 (A2/W35). Because air-to-water heat pumps are eligible for the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive, users of both machines can claim back money with use, currently at a tariff of 10.49 pence per kilowatt hour. For further energy cost savings, both pumps are optimised to use power generated on-site by photovoltaic systems, dependent on location and subject to solar PV peak.

Installation of the Vitocal 200-A and 222-A is easy. No minimum distance is required between the indoor and outdoor units, no refrigeration leak test is required because the cooling circuit is hermetically sealed, and no F-gas certificate is needed because the connecting pipes to the outdoor unit are filled with water.

These new heat pumps are also simple to operate, via the Vitotronic 200 control unit with its easy-to-read plain text and graphic display. Controls can be altered anywhere via the Vitoconnect web interface and free ViCare smartphone app.

Hugh Jones, Viessmann Product Manager, commented: “In developing the Vitocal 200-A and 222-A, we have enhanced airsource heat pump aesthetics and reduced noise. No one wants to look at an ugly heating appliance or hear it whirring away when they are sitting in their garden – or hear noise coming from a neighbouring garden. By addressing these issues inventively, we have produced two new heat pumps which are pleasing to the eye and so quiet that they can be installed right next to a neighbour’s property without causing problems.”