The overall goal of reducing fossil fuel use motivates the development of new heating technologies.

Heat pump technology is not new, but it has never been the foundation for residential heating due to the historically low prices of fossil fuels. At the same time, sustainable energy sources like wind turbines and photovoltaic systems remain relatively expensive. Regardless of whether one agrees that humanity is responsible for climate change, it’s still a matter of due diligence to take action.

Installing a heat pump may require effort. A heat pump consumes significantly more electrical power compared to a gas boiler or an oil burner. However, it's important to remember that the energy produced by the heat pump as heat is many times greater than the electrical energy supplied to it. Due to the technology involved, homeowners should be prepared to install an additional RCD and fuse for the heat pump. In some regions, an energy meter is also required. Many countries have a power grid where each household is supplied with three phases, distributing the power load relatively equally across them.

However, in some places, it’s not possible to connect three phases to the heat pump. In certain areas, only a single phase is available, and for those looking to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump in an existing home, finding a suitable heat pump can be challenging—especially if the heating demand is between 20 kW and 25 kW.

Product Launch

Eltwin is now launching a single-phase compressor drive. This single-phase drive provides a maximum output of up to 8kW and has been available in North America for several years. It is now also available for European use. Designed and produced in Europe, this ensures a short transport route from the factory to the appliance manufacturer.

Specifications

  • 1~ 208-240 V, 50/60 Hz

  • 8 kW

  • 3~ 33A output

  • 232 x 122 x 80 mm

Features

  • Safe Torque Off

  • Modbus RTU

  • Inrush current reduction

  • Power factor correction

  • Replaceable DC-link capacitor for extended lifetime

  • Designed and produced in Europe

The drive supports all current motor technologies for refrigerant compressors, including those using highly flammable refrigerants like R290. It can be controlled via Modbus RTU and configured or updated through the same interface. Specialized for heat pumps, it includes the necessary safety stop triggered by high-pressure and/or high-temperature sensors.

Like PURE drives, it can also heat the crankcase and be cooled via a cold plate, recovering heat losses for re-use in the heating circuit. For air-cooled drives, a traditional heat sink with fins is used, which can be designed for air flow in longitudinal, transverse, or arbitrary directions. Optionally, the drive is equipped with an output for a fan, providing additional cooling during evaporator defrost.

The drive supports all current motor technologies for refrigerant compressors

Eltwin has no financial interest in any compressor manufacturers and is therefore independent. The drive can be optimized for any brand of compressor chosen by the heat pump manufacturer.

The drive is very compact to simplify integration. The three external PFC chokes and the EMC filter can be placed where most suitable, as can the DC-link capacitor. An external DC-link capacitor allows for replacement if it wears out, without the need to replace the entire drive. This helps keep maintenance costs low and prevents unnecessary part replacements.