GB2527496A - Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes - Google Patents

Abstract

An assemblage of devices which act together to provide a user with thermal comfort and ventilation within a building whilst minimising fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The system comprises an input dehumidifier (an air to air heat pump) which is configured to supply pre-warmed dehumidified air into a structure. Additionally the input dehumidifier is controlled by a hygrostat which maintains a comfortable minimum relative humidity within the room into which the air is delivered. Preferably the dehumidified fresh air is blown into a house, to mix with warm air recirculated by a fan convector. This fan convector may be served by an air to water heat pump housed in a transparent enclosure that warms the air source with solar energy. Additionally a ground source heat pump and generator can be added to supplement the system providing warm water and air respectively.

Description

Energy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2OF!=pl

ENERGY EFFICIENT HEAT PUMPS FOR WARM DRY HOMES

BACKGROUND

1.0 OVERVIEW This invention challenges the UK's and probably most countries' "energy efficiency" practices in housing and other sectors. It is inconceivable that nuclear plus renewable energy could ever replace the rate of consumption of fossil fuels consumed worldwide. Thousands of nuclear power stations would need renewal every 50 years in perpetuity.

UK housing regulations are driven by simplistic assumptions of reducing C02 emissions that defy physics and ignore the parameters of themial comfort, the purpose of heating, and unaware of he realities of the damp cold conditions created by such official UK notions. Among major industries, both upgrading and new housing seems untouched by any scientific insight or foresight.

400,000 new Noddy houses to the "Code for Sustainable Homes" with their typical design life of 60 years would be needed every year in perpetuity to continuously replace a 24 million UK housing stock, against present output of about 100,000. But by 2050, cheap fossil fuel to build them is unlikely to be available leaving our grandchildren with cold damp crumbling houses, and the end of civilisation.

Typical UK 2 storey houses, whether detached, semi, or terraced are extravagant in -building materials, requiring expensive insulated external walls and roofs with vapour barriers, tightly air sealed, but imperfectly executed by builders, and vulnerable to deterioration of gaskets1 condensation, etc: -large areas of external surface still losing significant amounts of heat in winter, and vulnerable to mismanagement by householders resulting in excessive heat loss from ventilation etc. requiring large areas of access roads, parking and turning spaces, footways, and cycletracks; needing continual maintenance, being supported directly on the ground and vulnerable to soil movement, poor drainage, frost, heavy vehicles, causing potholes which even now councils cannot afford to repair.

-plus continual street cleaning, mowing of verges, etc. -plus high energy consumption of street lighting, -energy and labour-intensive collection of rubbish and recycling in heavy vehicles -creating multi-directional journeys which cannot be economically served by public transport, making car ownership essential and limiting the activities of people without.

-perpetuating present townscapes which will be more vulnerable with global warming to the "heat island effect of towns which already killed 3000 UK people in 2003.

Instead, a previous patent (GB 2460495) proposed greatly reducing energy demand in most land based sectors by replacing the existing energy-profligate human habitat with uLinear Eco Towns" which could last 1000 years. Nuclear power, carbon capture and storage could then be unnecessary.

Thebest that countries can do is to start now to use some of the remaining fossil fuel before the world sqUanders it all, to build apartments as Linear Eco Towns, being the only hope of near zero-carbon homes.

Building Linear Eco Towns is seen as the only hope of permanently reducing C02, because they are * : commercially and politically attractive and address other problems, creating much semi-skilled ethploymeAt and real wealth, building warm dry homes, using existing technologies, standard equipment, and abundant mainly indigenous low cost materials and not needing public funding. LETs are the best possible investments for pension funds etc as heating costs escalate with world fossil fuel prices.

The UK could build 500,000 apartments per year, plus other buildings with reinforced concrete construction, to resolve the housing shortage in 6 years, and replace most of the UK housing stock * with Linear Eco Towns (LETs) by 2050. Likewise in China, India etc. Joined up buildings, averaging 5 * storeys would vary in height above ground, to support a near-level sheltered segregated road and cycle tracks, above which is a greenhouse ropf serving horticulture and solar heat collection. Above the * greenhouse is a continuous row of wind turbines, supported on the building structure, saving about 500 4.

Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p2 tonnes of concrete used for each hill turbine. Built along existing routes between towns, residents can enjoy access and a therapeutic view of open country, while enjoying fast public transport to towns and new facilities along the LET. The well insulated concrete structure provides a heat store to maintain a comfortable temperature in cold and hot weather, avoiding the heat island of towns, and reducing the annual 20-40,000 annual cold related death toll.

2. REVIEW OF PRESENT PRACTICES 2.0 Meanwhile, the present invention is aimed at cutting energy consumption for space heating in existing buildings by perhaps 90%, but also sets the scene for Linear Eco Towns by discrediting official notions of upgrading existing houses etc. and new individual houses with a 60 year design life.

The problems and fallacies in present practices are analyzed and explained below: 2.1 Thermal comfort, the purpose of heating, is largely ignored by house heating, ventilating and official energy efficiency notions. Its parameters are mainly: -warm, near-equal air and radiant temperatures. But time switched heating leaves masonry walls cold, giving low radiant temperatures.

-minimal air movement. But intermittent heating causes strong convection, between cold walls and hot air rising from radiators. Most ventilation methods create cold drafts.

-near-uniform air temperature. But typical practice results in cool air stratifying at low level where people sit, while hot air stratifies at ceiling level.

-relative hitmiditybetween 40 and 60%. Fans, dehumiditiers, and MVNR (mechanical ventilation and heat.

recoveryare usually controlled by a hygrostat set to switch on above 70%, which is the threshold for.

mould. will cause mould and condensation in UK houses built without vapour barriers. Even 40% is likely to cause condensation within typical UK external walls, causing increased heat loss, 2.2 Endemic dampness in UK houses, has been identified by the writer as caused by a hygrothermal effect of time switched heating. Simple physics shows that while heating is off at night, hygroscopic materials of plaster, wood, paper, cotton and wool absorb moisture from cold ventilating air at its high relativéhumidity. When heating switches on this moisture re-evaporates from heated areas and: condenses in usually colder upstair bedrooms, and within external wails. 1 5kg/day of moisture could easily be added, which is several times domestic evaporation, calculated on reasonable assumptions.

DampnesE is thus endemic inUk houses with time switched heating and has cost £Billions Since the cold damp 1960s flats.

Dampness can also be caused by leakage of burned gas, which is a potent source of moisture. Open gas flues. are cool so have hue updraft to counter wind suction. Flues may also be blocked by builders debris. Completely burned gas is odourless, not toxic and often unnoticed. Several pilot lights on some old gas cookers can also cause chronic condensation.

Cavity insulated walls are most likely to be damp for several reasons: -Cavity insulation.usually does not have a vapour barrier, perhaps even in new houses.

-The outer leaf is likely to becolder after insulation.

-The drying mechanism of external air penetrating the cavity through the myriad holes in external brick leaves is blocked by cavity insulation.

-Rain which. has been absorbed in the outer leaf will Then also. be slower to dry, inhibiting drying of condensate.

The above are probably the main mechanisms of dampness. But dampness is aggravated by present methods of control being inadequate. . . 2.3. Energy is wasted.by dampness in several.

0 Another unrecognisedeffect of simple physics is that damp walls suffer a "heat pipe" effect, similar to that used to transfer heat quickly bychemical engineers, and as skewers to the inside of a roasfing Energy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p3 joint of meat. Room heat absorbed by the internal surfaces of external walls evaporates moisture, some of which diffuses or convects as moist air through the wall, and condenses in colder outer layers, liberating latent heat. Water wicks back to the inner face and maintains the cycle, transporting heat outwards more rapidly than just increasing the conductance as recognised by UK Building Regulations.

®"Eco insulation" of recycled newspaper, sheep wool, etc being hygroscopic, wettable, and water absorbent, is especially vulnerable to the "heat pipe" effect.

®WaIls with interconnected voids, as of "no-fines" concrete, can suffer damp on internal surfaces from a heat pipe effect in the reverse direction, when the Sun evaporates rain which has welled the outside, and air convects through the wall and condenses in the cooler plastered inner layer. Once damp a wall is likely to stay damp and cold from this heat pipe effect. The whole area of an external wall becomes a "heat pipe".

®Heat inputs to rooms are quickly absorbed by evaporation of moisture from walls made damp by The hygrothermal or heat pipe effects.

®People respond to dampness by increasing ventilation while heating is off, which drains out heat from the structure, increases ventilation heat loss, and brings in more moisture.

®Water evaporating from walls cools the surfaces, giving the effect of a climate a few degrees cooler.

®Heating bedrooms intermittently as most social housing providers have done trying to reduce condensation, is energy intensive. This requires enough heat each day to evaporate the moisture absorbed each night.

2.4 Present methods of ventilation are inefficient. Each "air change per hour" of warm air at 100 difference in a 1 OOsq.m. house, carries away about 1.5kW of heat costing about £4Opw at standard electricity rates.

(2) Presentmethods of specifying ventilation as air changes per hour, litres per second, area of openable window, or vent, bear no relation to their efficacy in removing pollutants. Fresh air usually just dilutes the ØOllutants.

®Warm air escaping from trickle vents in downstair window frames probably carries away lithe pollutant, being recently entered fresh air from low level convected upwards by the radiator beneath, while polluted warm moist air lingers at the ceiling.

®Vents in bedrooms funnel out moist house air, condensing moisture on the way. Outgoing air needs to be kept Warm.

®Provisioh of gas to a house, if only for cooking, increases the need for excess ventilation, to provide combustidn air, to remove burned gas, and to safeguard against leakages of unburned or burned gas.

®MicrOwave cooking is nowadays more convenient than gas, allowing gas to be eliminated from a house.

®Slime can form within MVHRs (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery) from condensate as outgoing hou aft containing dust, fat and body vapours is cooled within.

®MVHR may consume 1 OOWatts of electricity compared with 15W for a simple extract fan.

®Ventilation is seen as an intermittent need, as with cooker hoods and bathroom fans operated by the light switch. But 24/7 extraction is much more efficient, to remove vapour evaporating continuously from sink, drying towels, respiration, plants, etc. ®Relative humidity (% saturation*) is mistaken as measure of condensation risk, as used in hygrostats to siitOh on fans, dehumidifiers, and MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery), usually when it * reaches 70%. The dewpoint at 70% and 220 is 16.4C, which would result in condensation within external walls through most of the year.

*NB % saL is the percentage by mass of moisture in air that the air could hold at a specified temperature.

This is preferred to relative humidity which relates to vapour pressure. The two are a/most identical numerically, e.g. 40.64% sat and 40% r.h. at 22C, being good indoor conditions, with a dew point of 8C, the temperature at which if cooled, that air would condense moisture.

Energy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2Ol4p4 To control a fan etc. according to condensation risk, the internal and external temperatures and % sat can be measured electronically, the internal dewpoint and its excess over external temperature computed.

However, internal dewpoint takes a few days to equilibrate after a change in the weather, shown by condensation on single glazed windows for a few days after a change to colder weather, while hygroscopic materials desorb moisture that was absorbed from previously warm, er ventilating air with a higher moisture content. This is noticeable in the very changeable UK weather. However the problem is avoided by input dehumidification.

Continuous slow extraction causes less noise disturbance, and can provide a useful masking noise in quiet backgrounds. Fans ought to be vibration isolated during manufacture, and variable or two-speed.

"Displacement ventilation" much improves the efficiency of ventilation, but is almost unknown in the UK.

A high proportion of new houses ought to have of upstair day rooms with downstair bedrooms, so warmer air floats on cooler downstair bedroom air. Fresh air prewarmed to a chosen bedroom temperature delivered to downstair bedrooms, stratifies and is displaced slowly upwards, warmed in upstair day rooms, and eventually extracted at high level. Pollutants are carried upwards and quickly removed, without mixing with the large volume of house air as happens with typical UK practice. Upstair rooms being warmer are also less vulnerable to condensation as happens in conventional houses.

In conventional houses, 2417 extract with a bathroom fan achieves part of the efficiency of displacement ventilation by extracting moist house air from landing ceiling on its first convection. : 2.5 Reciroulating dehumidifiers are inefficient:. . -The amount of moisture condensed in typical indoor conditions is less than could be. removed by ventilation.

-Most of theelectricity is consumed in cooling the warm interior air to its dewpoint. In this closed system only the electrical consumption, plus a little latent heat reappears as warmth in the room air.' -Moisture removal claims are misleading, being based on torrid conditions "Water extraction is measured typiôally at 90% RH and 30°C" (www.appliancesdirect.co.ukldehumidifiers-buying-guide). "A 10 litre compressor dehumidifier will extract around 3-5 litres of water at normal domestic temperatures of 18°C -21°Cànd a RH of 70%".

2.6 To.prevent:condensation within walls, the dew pointof internal air needs to bebelow the wall temperature, but this isalmost impossible with natural ventilation. Without input dehumidification, domestic dew points are likely to be above wall temperatures for significant periods, even if wall temperatures are raised by 24/7 heating.

A key pail of this invention is to dehumidify ingoing ventilating air, which is the best hope of controlling dampness ih the wide variety of liing conditions. It is much easier to remove moisture from ingoing ventilating air to create more capacity for absorbing moisture than to capture and remove themoisture after it haè been emifted. A 300Watt input dehumidifier can much reduce the average indoor relative humidity, deliver about I kW of heat as prewarmed ventilating air, costing about £10 for 2417 operation for a full 168h week, at 20p/kWh reduced by a thermostat and hygrostat. The waste of perhaps 2kW of natural ventilation heat loss, or 336kWhIwk of gas costing about £25 and at least as much again through damp walls would be avoided.

2.7 Combustion heating in houses is wasteful and dangerous -Condensing. boilers'reach claimed efficiency only if return water from radiators is cool enough to condense moisture from flue gas, using its latent heat to prewarm the returning boiler water.

"Safety vents" actually create a hazard, depressurising a house when wind is from the opposite side, causing flue gas leakage or smoke emission from open fires.

-Leakages of burned gas from flues are common but seldom noticed. Gas flues are cool so have!illle natural draft to counter wind suction. But it is a potent source of moisture and can cause chronic condensation and dampness which wastes energy. 1⁄4

Energy efficient heat pumps for wanv thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 20l4p5 -Leakages of unburned gas cause several house explosions each year, -Leakages of unburned gas in houses, distribution pipes, and gas extraction add to global warming -Carbon monoxide produced by incomplete combustion may result from inadequate servicing, or a blocked flue. Co kills about 50 UK people p.a. and brain damages more.

-Incomplete combustion wastes about 70% of the fuel value of carbon.

-Even balanced flue gas appliances if not 100% room-sealed can emit toxic incompletely burned gas or black smoke into a house.

-Toxic carbon monoxide is more likely from coal and wood stoves, where the air supply is deliberately restricted to control the rate of burning of an excess of fuel.

-In coal and wood appliances burning conditions change continuously as fuel bums and more is added, so cannot be optimised. Too little air results in incomplete combustion to carbon monoxide, wasting 70% of the carbon. Too much air reduces the temperature of the hot gas and the heat that can be extracted.

Power stations monitor % C02 in flue gas to adjust the air supply for maximum efficiency.

-For complete combustion, coal and wood stoves need a secondary air supply above the firebed, and to burn bright red, producing perhaps 5kW of heat, which would overheat most rooms. Simple stoves are unsuitable for 24/7 heating.

-One brightly burning coal stove emitted almost no heat because hot air rising between inner and outer * casing was sucked into the firebox via a crack instead of convecting into the room.

-Heat transfer to a room is restricted by fire bricks needed to protect the iron casing from corrosion by the sulphur coritént of coal.

-The very hot flue gas from coal and wood stoves obviously wastes a lot of fuel.

Wood tOves, which are not lined with fire bricks, are an especial fire risk. The radiant heat can ignite lbgs stacked to dry near the stove, and. burn down the house Héät transfer to boiler surfaces is reduced by corrosion and flue dust.

The many sources of waste with coal and wood stoves are such that it is cheaper and §afer to heat 24/7 with a 1 kW electric fan heater, or preferably a heat pump.

2.8 Time-switched central heating system is perhaps only 25% effective in keeping people warm, not the 80% boile! efficiency usually assumed: -Hot air donvecting upwards from hot water radiators loses heat to cold walls and ceilings before convecting downwards to where people sit.

-Radiant heSt from hot water radiators, is instantly absorbed by cold walls or furniture unless it impinges direcfly oh people. . -Heat thus absorbed by cold walls and ceilings is likely to be dissipated in evaporating moisture from walls damp from the hygrothermal effect.

This effect of absorption of convected and radiant heat by walls and ceilings occur also with 24ff heating, but to a smalleramount, making perhaps 50% of gas burned being effective in keeping people warm. Many people find 24/7 central heating more economical than time switching, but much waste remains, The powerful therrnostaticboilers needed for rapid warm up with time switched central heating have a large potential for unrecognised waste.

a 20kW boiler may need only 2kW to maintain the temperature in a house, so idles probably inefficiently for 90% of the time after a steady temperature is reached.

-a' powerful boiler can belt out enough heat to keep a poorly sealed house warm without occupants being aWare of the waste, whereas a house gets cold with a low-powered appliance and people are impelled to dose openings.

The ineffectiveness of a time switched 20kW boiler may be judged by imagining the rapid gain of warmth from ten 2kW electric fan heaters around the house injecting 20kW of heat as warm air. The greater effectiveness of 24ff blown warm air in keeping people warm may be experienced by leaving just one a thermostatic electric fan heater on half power of 1 kW blowing across the living room floor for a week..

Energy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p6 2.9 Passive solar heating is inappropriate for the cloudy UK climate, though nowfinding favour in houses, office blocks, schools, etc. -The large area of south interior facing window can lose more heat than it gains, and cause a cold radiant heat sink and down draft. This is offset with low-cost insulating shutters (patent GB2341200) in the writer's house.

-Collectible radiant solar heat is inadequate in the typical UK cloudy winter climate. When the Sun does shine it can overheat a building especially when the Sun is low in Spring and Autumn. Unlimited renewable heat can be extracted by AWHPs from winter air, available 24/7 everywhere as herein.

-Triple glazed south facing windows reduce transmission to about 50%, reducing collection. Single glazed transparent enclosures as proposed herein transmit about 90% to preheat the air source of AWHPs at a fraction of the cost.

2.10 Householders cannot be expected to regulate for best economy the complex if simple physics shown by this analysis of dampness, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, etc with trickle vents, MVHR, hygrostats, etc., even assuming the knowledge and time which few householders possess.

In reality while The folklore persists, present practices are likely to continue in many households, of intermittent heating, opening windows at night! drying washed clothes on radiators, etc. potentially increasing dampness and deaths from cold related diseases as fuel prices increase.

The best hope is that input dehumidification will be increasingly copied by neighbours because of its very noticeable benefits, contributing abOut 1 kW of heat as prewarmed fresh air from a 300Watt unit at a maximum possible cost at 2OpIkWh of El 0/wk, reduced by the hygrostat and thermostat, being the most effective, simplest and cheapest universal fix. The heat input would be supplemented by an AWHP lb most houses.

2.11.The.prerequisite of energyreduction is thus not insulation, but keeping houses dry by' -dehumidification of ingoing ventilating air to increase its drying effect and maintain drying conditions; -24/7 heating to avoid the.hygrothermal effect of pumping in moisture by time switched heating.

and stop condensation within walls and evaporate any water there by raising its temperature and vapour pressure to above the dewpoint of internal air, -24/7 extract from landing ceiling to remove polluted air before it recirculates to mix with the rest of house air.

Energy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2OI4p7

3. STATEMENT QF INVENTION

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing of Figure 1.

The invention is an assemblage of complementary innovations with the purpose of achieving thermal comfort and good indoor air quality, while minimising fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

An input dehumidifier Us an air to air heat pump where a proportion of the cooled and dehumidified external air usually rejected is diverted to be reheated by the heat extracted from the whole air flow plus the electrical consumption, to supply prewarmed dehumidified ventilating air to the building at 2.

A hygrostat 3 controls the input dehumidifier, to maintain a comfortable minimum relative humidity of air in the room into which the dehumidified air is delivered.

An air to water heat pump 4 delivers hot liquid to a hydronic fan convector, which recirculates internal air, blowing it downwards across a floor.

Hot liquid may also circulate to hydronic radiators and a domestic hot water cylinder not shown.

The heat pumps are partially housed in an enclosure 5 of transparent to radiant solar heat, such that warmed air flows to the heat pump from within the enclosure and reject cooled air is expelled outside the enclosure and replacement air allowed to enter the enclosure via a low level vent 6.

Black panels of low heat capacity 7 as of black emulsion-painted expanded-polystyrene are fitted within the enclosure to intercept the radiant solar heat to warm the air in the enclosure, thus increasing The performance ratio (COP) of the heat pump.

House air is exhausted from the house by a fan 8 from upper floor ceiling level before it reaches bedrooms, preferably via an upperfloor bathroom and delivered to enclosure 5 via duct S where its sensible and latent heat helps to warm The air source of the AWHP.

Condensate from the heat pump drainsinto the rainwater disposal system of the house 10.

Electrically driven heat pump may be locally powered by an engine, driven generator located such that theexhaust gas is directed into the transparent enclosure, and the cooling water piped to a heat exàh'anger that boosts the temperature of the hot water delivered by the heat pump.

A groundsource heat pump (GWHP) 11 maybe located wherever most appropriate and plumbed to supplement the hot liquid output of the AWHPr, . . The heat sOurce of the GSHP is a borehole 12 wherein is heat-collecting piping.

A pump and float switch not shown and water pipe 13. pumps water from the borehole while allOwing the heat-collecting piping to remain immersed.

Claims (5)

1. Energy efficient he at pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 20l4p8 4. CLAIMS CLAIM 1: An input dehumidifier being an air to air heat pump that cools and condenses moisture from a source of external air and reheats a proportion of that dehumidified air with a proporiion of the heat extracted from it and rejects the remainder of both.CLAIM 2: An input dehumidifier according to claim 1 that is controlled by a hygrostat within the room into which the dehumidified air is delivered, that controls the dehumidifier to a comfortable minimum relative humidity in the air.CLAIM 3: An input dehumidifier as in claims 1 and
2. 2 together with an air source heat pump together with a solar heat collecting transparent enclosure with an aperture through which air from the heat pump is rejected to atmosphere, and an aperture through which replacement external air is induced.CLAIM 4: An input dehumidifier and air source heat pump and transparent enclosure as in claims 1 and 2 and
3. 3 within said enclosure are arranged low thermal capacity sheets designed to absorb and convert radiant solar energy to heat to warm the air within the enclosure.CLAIM 5: A hydronic fan convector sewed by the air to water heat pump as in claim 3 that blows warm air into the building.CLAIM 6: An input dehumidifier and air source heat pump and transparent enclosure and fan convector according to claims I and 2 and 3 and
4. 4 and 5 together with a ground source heat pump designed to * complement and supplement the hot liquid output of the air source heat pump CLAIM 7: A ground source heat pump as in claim 5 where the heat source is a borehole from which ground water is extracted at a rate that allows the heat collecting pipe to remain immersed.CLAIM 8: A dehumidifier and air heater and fan and air source heat pump and transparent enclosure and solar absorbent sheets according to claims 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 together with a generator of electricity located such that heat from its engine and exhaust warms the air within the enclosureSEnergy efficient heat pumps for warm thy homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 20l4p9 5. ADVANTAGES OFTHE INVENTION 5.1. OVERVIEW This invention opens the way to a practical strategy to mitigate climate change worldwide at no additional cost, while alleviating several other intractable problems of unemployment, water, etc. The invention enables existing houses to be made dry and warm, while reducing CO2 emissions by about 90%, and heating costs to a third, compared with time switched central heating. This is based on calculations and estimates of the amount of gas needed to provide effective heat in each system. By contrast, present official notions of energy efficiency are saving only about 20% of the 30% of C02 emissions caused by housing, or 6% of total.Further savings are likely from reduced heat losses due to the better insulation given by dry external walls, reduction of ventilation heat loss, and enabling bedroom temperatures to be reduced without causing dampness and mould.The invention works without insulation, demonstrated in 8 uninsulated solid walled large old houses, in 2000-2007 with partial prototypes with astonishing performance from low powered units.The annual cold-related 20-40,000 UK death toll could be almost eliminated, almost certainly caused by present heating, ventilation and energy efficiency practices, which make houses damp by a hygrothermal effect. Replacing folklore with physics, also avoids the intractable conflicts in present practice, Instead the invention addresses thermal comfort, the objective of heating.Discrediting present notions, makes the case for replacing the whole existing energy-intensive human habitat with Linear Eco Towns (LETs, patent GB2460495) as the only hope of mitigating climate * change. LETs will reduce energy consumption in most land-based energy sectors enabling humanity to survive in near zero-carbon buildings resistant to tornados and earthquakes likely to devastate the exiätiñg housing stack, and maintaining liveable conditions in extreme hot and.cold weather..Both innovations are politically and commercially attractive, offering profitable industrial activity to mitigate climate change, can be started immediately, with significant effect in a few years, satisfying immediate needs.of good housing at probably half the cost of houses to the Code for Sustainable Homes". Benefits of better thermal comfort, low running and maintenance costs for homes and industry, are very noticeable so both should sell like hot cakes in a ready market as world fuel prices rise, C02 emissions could probably be reduced at 3% per year.By contrast the political process is still failing to take effective action to reduce C02 emissions, while politicians are still promoting economic growth meaning ever higher levels of consumption and emissions. . . &2 The main technicSl innovations in upgrading existing houses are: . -Ingoing ventilating air is dehumidified, warmed and blown in, to reduce the dewpoint of internal air to a minimum comfortable relative humidity, say 30%, to provide a much more powerful way of Keeping houses dry than can natural ventilation. This is probably the only hope of keeping cavity insulation dry and effective. Research (J Physiol Anthropol. 2006 May;25(3):229-38.) indicates that.30% saturation should be an acceptable level. This is lower than the accepted comfort range, but many people live and work at lower Ievels..For acceptance, % saturation would be preferably be under the control of occupants.-The performance ratio of the main heat source of AWHPs (air to water heat pumps) is boosted from typical COP3 to. probably 5 or more by larming the air source, with radiant solar heat, collected by black panels in a transparent enclosure. The 50% efficiency of modem combined cycle gas turbine generators (CCGTs) is boosted to 250% conversion efficiency of gas to heat. This compares with perhaps. 25% effectiveness of gas burned in time switched central heating where both radiant and convected heat outputs from radiators are quickly absorbed an,d dissipated by cold damp walls caused by the hygrothermaleffect of time switched heating, of pumping moisture into houses.Energy efficient he at pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2Ol4p1O Heat from the AWHP is delivered 2417 by a hydronic fan convector or plinth heater as warm air blown downwards to warm the cold air that normally stratifies where people sit. This is seen as the most effective way of using heat to keep people warm. The warm air keeps the rest of a house at background temperature, dries and warms the walls, raising their radiant temperature while losing heat only slowly to walls.-Further savings are likely by improving the insulation by drying walls, and by reducing ventilation heat loss.These may not be manifest as fuel savings, but taken as belier comfort.5.3 Systems are automatic, avoiding the waste of householders trying to manage the intractable conflicts between thermal comfort, ventilation, condensation, energy reduction and misinformation of present notions.
5. 5.4 Indoor air quality will be improved. The effects on respiratory health of damp living conditions are recognised in the EU. Low relative humidity will greatly reduce allergenic mould spores and feces of house mites which breed in the humid conditions endemic in UK houses.

   Some of the pollutants in external air of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide gases, microcarbon particles etc. will be condensed out with the moisture. A filter can be added to remove particles when dehumidification is not * required.

   House emissions of moisture and other pollutants lingering at upstair ceiling level will be removed At high concentration before mixing with the rest of house air, by extract via the bathroom, confining lavatory smells, and keeping the bathroom dry and free at mould caused by bathroom moisture.

   5.5 Alt to water heat pumps (AWHPs) have far greater potential for C02 reduction than other renewableS. The UK's most abundant, inexhaustible source of renewable heat is its relatively mild winter air, available everywhere 24ff, alone capable of meeting the UK's major energy demands of space heating. This invention can rapidly reduce the energy demand for space heating, white Linear Eco Towns increase wind power to drive them. Biofuels converted to electricity could back up wind power in periods of calm weather, to drive heat pumps and deliver more heat than combustion heating.Spaceheating would then be entirely renewable.AWHPs can be manufactured as packaged units, and fitted by a plumber, without refrigeration knowhow.Low. powered. AWHPS Say 1.5kWe operating 24/7 delivering heat as blown warm air can meet the heating load of keeping a them room at sitting comfort temperature, with background heating in the rest of a house.Low power Will impel people to keep windows, doors and vents shut, avoiding the waste of powerful boilers belting out heat when a window is left open. Low power will avoid excessive load on electricity supply.By contrast, more powerful GSHPs are specified to replace boilers for time switched heating with radiators. If widely installed these.could create unacceptable loads for national electricity supply., and other problems. . . GSHPs extract heat which has been stored in the ground from the previous summer. To extract enough heat to last the winter an expensive deep borehole is needed or long length of shallow trenching with slinky pipes. The ground near the borehole or slinky pipes normally freezes reducing the performance ratio (COP) to that of a heat source at OC or below, whereas an AWHP extracts from an average UK winter airtemperature of about 6C, increased by solar warmed air from a transparent enclosure as inthis invention. . . Widespread use of GSHP5, would risk pollution of ground water with antifreeze. Use of more volatile alcohols than ethylene glycol ought to be required; Trenching destroysthe soil structure, and the cooled ground may delay crop growth in Spring.Energy efficient heat pumps for wami dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 pit 5.6 A powerful cost incentive is provided by this invention to utilise the UK's most abundant, inexhaustible, source of renewable energy of its relatively mild winter air, available everywhere 2417 by boosting AWHPs to at least PR5, and reducing heating costs to a third, compared with typical central heating.On government's short sighted view, disregarding climate change and ignorant of the other benefits, there was no case for adopting basic heat pumps at PR3, when electricity to drive them cost 3 times as much, also unaware of all the shortcomings of central heating. Astonishingly, the recent Renewable Heat Incentive offers 183p/kWh to GSHPs, but only 7.3p/kWh to ASHPS despite the latter's immensely greater potential and accessibility.Moreover, the UK government's defeat of a far-sighted EU proposal years ago for a carbon tax had also destroyed a potential incentive to develop renewable energy. This could be introduced painlessly with other benefits by replacing the National Insurance Contribution with a Carbon Tax, plus increased social security payments to compensate for higher fuel cost to non-contributors. Labour costs would reduce, increasing employment. Everyone would have more money in their pockets. Frugal fuel consumers would save money. Revenue would increase, by reducing evasion of NIC. A carbon tax could be tweaked up or down overnight to adjust quickly to expenditure, and tune the economy, instead of following years later. Balance of payments cost of fuel imports would reduce. Government administration, borrowing and taxes could be cut.5.7 COMBINING AIR AND GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS could achieve a higher performance ratio than either, for larger houses and in colder winter climates, each compensating for the limitations of the other, economising in the capital and running costs. AWHPs with transparent enclosures cab provide the heat load in Autumn, Spring and Sunny days in mid winter, while conserving ground heat to :bfracted by GSHPs in the depths of winter.5.8 PUMPING WATER FROM GSHP BOREHOLES Heat output.and performance ratio of a GSHP may be increased in suitable strata, by pumping ground water from the borehole at a slow rate that allows the heat exchanger pipe to remain immersed.Water replacing it from surrounding strata brings more heat at higher temperature faster to the heat exchanger than conduction through frozen ground. The water may be used or returned to ground a suitable distance away.5.9 METABOLIC HEAT RECOVERY Where buildings are intensively occupied, as are schools, chicken sheds, etc. they could be largely self-hAting by recovering with an AWHP the metabolic heat normally wasted in ventilation.The high rate of ventilation required might best be delivered entirely as prewarmed blown fresh air, avoiding the cost of radiators. Healthier animals and pupils should result from the better air quality.In schools, any air noise should be at teachers end. Students can then hear against a quieter background.The inêtállation can also. serve as a much needed educational facility in this neglected technology.Airborne infections, feather dust, insects, smell, etc would partially condense out with thecondensaté. Air could be exhausted badk to the heat pump evaporator at a slightly greater rate than the supply, confining and partiallycondensing out pollutants. . 5.10 ON SITE ELECTRICITY GENERATION Heat pumps on larger buildings, especially animal houses can be powered by electricity generated on site with a gas or Diesel engine. This would allow the cogenerated heat to be recovered, either by increasing, the performance ratio of an AWHP, àr as hotter water than a heat pump usually provides.Heating might cost less than daytime electricity, even without the incentive of a carbon tax.Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p12 A separate noise-reducing engine house couldbe built as a passive solar building, with a large south facing single glazed window. 99% of the cogenerated heat might then be captured, greatly reducing C02 emissions and the load on the national grid.This would also further extend the range of AWHPs to colder climates.5.11 NATIONAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION To gain most advantage from this invention, national electricity generating capacity needs to be rapidly increased. This invention can smooth the transition to renewable energy and sustainability.-Combined cycle gas turbine power stations (CCGTs) should be ordered now, to be installed along projected routes of Linear Eco Towns when known, where convenient to connect with the exisitng national grid, starting to generate perhaps in 2017, to serve increased demand from existing settlements, to avoid inhibiting installation of AWHPs.-The cogenerated heat and electricity from CCGTs can be utilised in the Linear Eco Towns as they are occupied, in advance if need be of completion of winØ turbines above the LETs. It is anticipated that 500,000 LETs apartments per year would be built, to make good the 3 million housing shortfall in 6 years and replace most of the existing housing stock by 2050, apartments being the only hope of zero carbon housing.-The longer term problem of intermittence of wind and PV electricity is alleviated. AWHPs can be on a * cheaper interruptible tariff that can be cut in rotation for an hour or two at times of electricity shortfall.Masonry. houses heated 24/7 will keep warm for several hours. The CCGT capacity provided to power AWHP.s in existing settlements can then offer a large capacity to back up renewable olecthcityduiing shortfalls: Total demand for electricity and heat would reduce, as Linear Eco Towns replace existing settlements.There may be no need for more CCGTs in a decade or two, except replacements. Those installed wOUld remain as back up, powered perhaps by renewable gas from anaerobic digesters and other methane technologies in the LETs.-Other electricity backups could find favour, such as liquid air, produced when renewable electricity is in surplus, with extracted heat utilised in LETs. While in storage vaporisation of liquid air helps keep integral cold food stores cold. When electricity is in short supply, the addition of heat to liquid air in a pressure vessel generates compressed air to drive a turbine. Claimed to be more a more efficient way Of storing electricity than pumped water storage, even without integral cold stores.Delaying cloSure of old power stations will be justified, not to inhibit the installation of heat purrips b laëk of generating capacity. At PR5 an AWHP powered from even a 30% efficient power station,can deliver 150% fuel conversion efficiency compared with probably 25% of time switched central heating; Biomass would likewise be converted more efficiently burned in old power stations than by combustion heating.Electricitywill be Saved in several ways that will partially offset consumption by increasing AWRPs.-People riow using bar fires, convectors, fan heaters or night storage heaters will change to AWHPs, cutting electricity, C02 emissions heating cost to about a fifth -Electricity used for immersion heating will be cut to a fifth by heating water with an AWHP.-Tumble drying of washed clothes is avoided by drying clothes on a rack in a bathroom, fitted with fan extract ventilation. A washing machine load can dry in a day.Copius condensateproduced by AWHPs and input dehumidifiers can provide secondary water, eventually reducing electricity used for pumping mains water.5.12 REDUCTION OF ENERGY DEMAND: The above sections deal largely with the efficiency of production of heat. The following address how that heat will be conserved and utilised, and the advantages enabled by the technology.Keeping walls dry with input dehumidification avoids the "heat pipe" effect of rapid heattransfer.Moisture evaporates.from the warm side of walls, diffuses orconvects to the cold side, liberates latent * * * . * 12 Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p13 heat as it condenses there, wicks back to the warm side and continuously recycles. Heat pipes are used as skewers to transmit heat quickly into a roasting joint of meat, and by chemical engineers to transmit heat faster than metallic conduction. The whole area of a damp wall can act as a heat pipe, negating its insulation value.The effect of fluctuation of moisture content in external air is also avoided by maintaining a steady 30% sat indoors. Otherwise heat is absorbed when the weather gets colder, because the vapour pressure in air reduces, and moisture evaporates from hygroscopic materials, and vice versa.Heat loss from the upper storey can be reduced with input dehumidification, by enabling temperature reduction without suffering mould and condensation, avoiding full central heating as adopted by most housing societies, trying to cure dampness. The dewpoint of air at 30% sat and 22C is only 3.9C, which would avoid risk of condensation and mould in cool bedrooms. By contrast typical living room air at 50% saturation at 22C will reach the mould threshold of 70% at 1 7C, and condense moisture if it reaches bedrooms at 11.3G. Mould behind wardrobes and musty clothes would be practically eliminated.Delivering heat 24/7 as blown warm air results in a stable houseful of warm air losing heat more slowly than orthodoxy predicts, through a thick insulating boundary layer of still air to walls only a few degrees cooler.Ventilation heat loss is reduced: Each air change per hour of warm air not wasted by traditional ineffectual ventilation, Sn save about 1500 Watts of heat, for a fan consumption of about 15 Watts of electricity.-Adopting AWHPs as the source of heat removes the need for excess ventilation to safeguard against leakage of flue gas and unburned gas with combustion heating.-It is easier to remove moisture by dehumidifying ingoing air than to capture it after it has been emitted and mixes with house air. It also provides a greater capacity to absorb and carry away moisture Ektract from landing ceiling via the bathroom partially removes polluted air on its first convection at high concentration before pollutants mix with the whole of house air, reducing the necessary rate of extfaction -The ehvelopeof a house can be sealed as tightly as feasible without risking inadequate ventilation, and reducing wind-drivenexfiltration, while assuring adequate precisely-controlled ventilation. in póôily sealed houses, loss of heat by exfiltration of warm air may be reduced by extracting air to heat recovery ata greater rate than supply, such that remaining holes admit fresh air.Heat recovery from ehaUstair reduces heat loss, but cannot be expected to be 100%effective H Any increaSe in heat loss from changing to 2417 heating is believed would be much outWeighed by reduction in heat loss by reducing dampness by avoiding the hygrothermal effect of previous intermittent heating, and actively keeping houses dry with input dehumidification. Only in the case of a low mass timber frame or mobile homes, may this not be so, but the risk of potential damage to these * -fromcondensation is such that owners would be wise to maintain a background temperature 2417.5.13 PENETRATING DAMP Sources of penetrating damp can be better identified and remedied when the remainder of a wall has dried.5.14 THERMAL COMFORT Thermal comfort, which is the objective of space heating, is optimised by this invention.The parameters are not precise, but are satisfied as follows: -24/7 heating warms walls, giving near equal radiant and air temperature.-A uniform airtemperature is obtained by delivering heat as 24/7 warm air blown downwards,mixing and warming the colder layers of air which with conventional heating stratify at low level where people sit,.-Prewarmed ventilating air avoids cold drafts. * Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p14 -Relative humidity at 30% is below the accepted ideal range of 40-60%, but is widely experienced and notuncomfortable-For maximum economy, a comfortable sitting temperature is maintained 24/7 in a main room. The rest of a house is kept dry and filled with air at a background temperature, which would satisfy many people.-Where a higher standard of heating is wanted, other rooms can be heated by blown warm air or with conventional thermostatic radiators. Stratification is less with 24/7 heating and with radiators at a lower temperature from an AWHP than a boiler. With 24/7 heating heat output should be adequate, from small radiators designed for time switched heating.5.15 STABLE RELATIVE HUMIDITY 24/7 Input dehumidification avoids wasting energy re-evaporating moisture previously absorbed by hygroscopic materials when the relative humidity is high. And the dehumidifier is continuously winning sensible and latent heat from external air and using it to warm the ingoing dehumidified air to maintain a few degrees warmth.Some householders may be concerned about dry air causing their pianos to crack. However the variation of relative humidity with conventional heating from 30% when a house is heated in cold weather, to 80% when a house cools overnight is a much greater problem.24/7!npuI dehumidification whatever the temperature will maintain near constant relative humidity, which is what wood responds to, varying only from 30% to perhaps 40% during domestic activity, quickly reduced back to 30% by ongoing injection of dry air.Astablelow relative humidity as achieved by 24/7 input dehumidification is also beneficial in reducing condensation on single glazing, mould on walls, keepin bedding dry, preventing dry foods ofporddge, biScuits, etc going soggy and mouldy, drying clothes quickly, etc. Seldom-used buildings such as Ohurches can be kept dry, preserving the structure and allowing heating to be topped up when needed, without all the heat being absorbed into damp walls.5.16 ECONOMIC REFORM The supreme advantage of this invention is that it provides a politically attractive strategy to start now to seriously mitigate climate change with about 90% reduction in C02 emission from house heating, while :l<eeping houses warm and dry, saving two thirdà of heating costs, improving health and redUcing cold related déath, creating a new market without need for subsidy, saving public money and energy imports.It also discredits officialnotions of upgrading existing houses and building new wsustainablell homes with a design life of only 60 years as a permanent solution, which would leave our grandchildren with cold damp houses with no cheap fuel to replace them.However, hbusihg is only 30% of C02 emissions.The technical solution is to create millions of meaningful jobs worldwide by building Linear Eco Towns, (patent GB2460495) starting now while cheap fossil fuel is still available to replace the present eflergyintensive human habitat, of apartments and other buildings that can last 1000 years, being built of reinforced conOrete that is resistant to earthquakes, and maintain liveable conditions in extremes of hot cold and violent weather, with better thermal comfort than current housing is capable of, at very low cost, enabling everyone to enjoy an adequate sustainable lifestyle.5.17 FUNDING OF LINEAR ECO TOWNS Linear Eco Towns can be kick-staled in advanced countries as the best possible investment for pension funds, and the $Trillions of virtual cash on computers, in low carbon buildings with a l000y life that will find an increasing market for rent and lease of apartments and factories as world fossil fuel prices esOalate. * 14Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dty homes -Patent application Green Channel Patent-final 15 May 20l4p15 But other funding methods are needed to build Linear Eco Towns in poor countries, without incurring insupportable debt. The way forward is shown by trading clubs such as "Bartercard" used worldwide for trade between businesses including property sales in "trade dollars". Buyers are debited, sellers are credited with "trade dollars which can be spent immediately with other members of the trading club, avoiding risk of bad debts. No interest is charged. In effect credit is provided by the trading club, and everyone benefits by supporting one another.Similar systems are needed but including consumers and workers, to mobilise the human and material resources of every country. Community Barter (CB) is suggested conveying some understanding of the mechanism. Everyone has the collateral security of their own future labour. Mobile phones, widely used for transactions could quickly establish CBs, making most goods and services available and stimulating internal trading.Farmers could survive a bad harvest, by a debit remaining until the next year, instead of incurring higher interest or losing land to bank foreclosure.A representative body of Members would regulate credit according to status earned. Builders could start by paying workers say 50% in CBs, having previously arranged a starter chain of traders and farmers, where people could buy their daily needs, for perhaps 50% CBs which might quickly increase to 80% of a trader's turnover. People are more likely to get future work or business if they accept part CBs.Ring fencing of systems is probably desirable, to encourage national self sufficiency. Governments cou!d encourage national production by accepting CBs as taxes and paying out CBS within the country, sving interest on its own borrowing. Soon most internal transactions could be 100% in a coUntry's CBs. Imports would be bought in hard currency, earned, by exports, but importers could take part of their margin in CBs, and accept part CBs.The EurOpean Union problem of drainage of Euros from its poorer members, its 18 million unerfiployed and resuItin migrat!on to the richer members might also be resolved by. building Linear Eco TOwns,:quickly improving their economies with spin-off and providing long-term employment, funded largely by CBs, 5.18 FINA NCIAL REFORM.Financial reform is long overdue to encourage more productive work, and replace the parasitic bloated tinanbial sector. Unemployment is caused partly by banks, in the cost and shortage of credit, and partly by governments by the tax and social security systems, which prevent people being able to work informally legally, reducing the UDP (Useful Domestic Product), and encourage tax evasion, Most UK täxés are opportunistic and devoid of reason. They impinge mainly on human inputs, which make labour expensive, causing unemployment, increasing the cost of vital services provided by central and locél government.. . Clearly péoplé bánnot depend on the effluent economy for a future rewarding lifestyle. Labour costs of repair are already directing manufacturing to automation and robotisation to make short life goods cheaper to throwaway and buy new. But remaining jobs in manufacturing, sales, etc will inevitably reduce with shortages of energy and raw materials. Building Lihear Eco Towns can provide the economic growth without the growth in ephemeral consumption now seen as a cure all.The tax system supports as tax allowable expenses the prodigious waste on advertising, junk mail, cold calling, company cars,etc., which increase the price of everyday products. Corporation tax discriminates in favour of businesses such as supermarkets, which turn over their capital several times a year, and against slower moving farming, building, etc. Tax should instead be on sales tumover,and directemployment to supply human needs, especially housing, medical and social care.Building Linear Eco Towns will not only provide much meaningful employment, but will relocate people to be better áblé to support themselves and each other, both on adjacent land and using low cost facilities and travel within the LET, with trade stimulated by Community Barter.The only rational tax system for the future is to tax mainly exploitation of natural resources, (apartfrorn taxes with specific aims, such as reducing smoking and alcohol consumption). But the UK defeated an earlier Energy efficient heat pumps for warm dry homes -Patent appli cation Gmen Channel Patent-final 15 May 2014 p16 EU proposal for a carbon tax. Land Value Tax, once Liberal Party policy as Site Value Rating, returns to the community the increased value created by surrounding development, as the rental value of unimproved land, benefit in Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and other countries, but would be opposed by the vested UK interests. Both such taxes would further encourage building of Linear Eco Towns.Competifive advantage would be gained by early developing countries in building Linear Eco Towns, in reducing costs in most sectors and especially of imported fossil fuels with escalating world prices.5.19 PEACE Alienation and conflict are at least partially driven by economic deprivation. The present economic system is largely driven by politicians and banks promoting consumption with no regard for climate change, making make money for relatively few elite. Conflicts will increase as employment is reduced by shortages of energy and raw materials adding to redundancies from automation and robotisation.The establishment is refusing to adapt. The UK Governments' response to the financial crash, has been to support and try to restore The systems that caused it, bailing out the banks at the expense of taxpayers, while the banking system of creating money and adulterating the currency by lending forty or more times deposits remains sacrosanct, with high interest rates creaming off consumers' margins, and food -banks are needed to keep people from starving.This invention has revealed the ineffectiveness of official notions of energy efficiency in houses. Governments havé-alsô failed to awaken people to the imminence of serious climate change or achieve any -significant reduction in C02 emissions over 30 years since the first alarms were sounded.These innovations can now enable useful industry to take the lead in mitigating climate change, much faster than hublea power, providing good jobs and homes as fast as industry can organise itself, subject ohl to sUrmounting government obstacles.People can have no confidence in govemments protecting them from climate change. Banks can find-a new ethical role, in managing Community-Barter with their existing facilities, just charging a transaction fee.