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Faiveley
Heat pump cuts energy costs by up to 50%
FAIVELEY HEAT PUMP SYSTEM - Faiveley Transport’s new Heat Pump is a major HVAC innovation because it can cut energy consumption by up to 50%. In its target market, the rail industry, this equates to around 1500 USD/year for each carriage.
For moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like a refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm space - making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.
In cold weather, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into the warm train; in warm weather, they transfer heat from the train to the outdoors. Because they move heat - rather than generate heat - the heat pumps can provide up to four times the amount of energy they consume.
This kind of system is well-proven for heating and cooling buildings, but Faiveley has extended the concept to railway carriages.
In cold weather, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into the warm train; in warm weather, they transfer heat from the train to the outdoors. Because they move heat - rather than generate heat - the heat pumps can provide up to four times the amount of energy they consume.
This kind of system is well-proven for heating and cooling buildings, but Faiveley has extended the concept to railway carriages.
Easy-to-implement
This HVAC system consists of a compressor (existing or not) and two coils made of copper tubing - one inside and one outside. The system is reversible, so can provide either heating or cooling in a single unit. In heating mode, liquid refrigerant in the outside coils extracts heat from the air and evaporates into a gas. The inner coils then release heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve near the compressor changes the direction of the refrigerant flow.
Short Return on investment
Faiveley Transport’s heat pump offers higher energy efficiency in heating mode - from 2 to 4 according to ambient temperature - enabling reduction of CO2 emissions. An electrical heater is still needed for very low ambient temperatures. Global power consumption can be reduced by 50%. The cost reduction potential is more 1000 USD per coach/year offering a payback time of three to four years.
Railway proven solution
Three heat pumps units have been tested on the German rail network since January 2007, showing a global energy cost reduction of 40%.
This HVAC system consists of a compressor (existing or not) and two coils made of copper tubing - one inside and one outside. The system is reversible, so can provide either heating or cooling in a single unit. In heating mode, liquid refrigerant in the outside coils extracts heat from the air and evaporates into a gas. The inner coils then release heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve near the compressor changes the direction of the refrigerant flow.
Short Return on investment
Faiveley Transport’s heat pump offers higher energy efficiency in heating mode - from 2 to 4 according to ambient temperature - enabling reduction of CO2 emissions. An electrical heater is still needed for very low ambient temperatures. Global power consumption can be reduced by 50%. The cost reduction potential is more 1000 USD per coach/year offering a payback time of three to four years.
Railway proven solution
Three heat pumps units have been tested on the German rail network since January 2007, showing a global energy cost reduction of 40%.
Faiveley Transport’s Heat pump functional diagram
