2005 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Limerick Institute of Technology
Joe Dunk, Liam Walsh & Margaret Spillane
Heat pumps as an alternative to oil

Global Reserves of oil peaked in 1962! Yes, over 40 years ago. In March 2002 oil was $34 a barrel. It peaked at over $60 in Summer 2005. Prices could even reach $75 by the end of the year. Increasing demand and ever dwindling supplies means that Irish consumers will pay more for heating oil. Rising prices also open up opportunities for alternatives to oil.


Comparative heating costs January 2002

Heat pumps have been around for a long time. Every house has a heat pump in the form of a fridge or freezer. A heat pump about the size of a dishwasher will heat a 2000 sq foot (185 sq metres) house for a fraction of the operating cost of a similar oil burner. Increasing oil prices make the operating economics of heat pumps more attractive.

The most recent research project in Limerick Institute of Technology aims to investigate the use of small scale wind turbines to increase the output of domestic heat pumps. The research will concentrate on using a small scale wind turbine to increase the input temperature of the water/brine mixture used on the collector side of domestic heat pumps. The project commenced in September 2005 and is due to finish in June 2008.

Contact: Joe Dunk, E-mail: [email protected] ;
Walsh, E-mail: [email protected] ;
Margaret Spillane, E-mail: [email protected]