Knowledge
‘Encouraging feedback’ on hybrid combination
WITH AROUND FOUR MILLION UK HOMES HAVING NO ACCESS TO MAINS GAS, OVER A QUARTER OF THESE HOMES CURRENTLY
CHOOSE KEROSENE TO HEAT THEIR HOME
“Each year many of these oil boilers need
to be updated or changed, most often as
distress purchases when the house is suddenly
without heat and requires a quick solution,”
says Anna Wakefield, marketing and corporate
communications manager at Grant UK,
manufacturer of both oil and gas-fired boilers
and renewable technologies.
The speed with which householders
need a replacement means the opportunity
to offer a renewable technology, is extremely
difficult. This is mainly due to the additional
work involved to update a heating system and
also the length of time this would take. Not
wanting any further disruption, householders
need their heating system to operate as soon
as possible. Understandably, therefore, the idea
of a lengthy installation period is off-putting
and often discourages the adoption of other
technologies.
installer evenings with feedback on the hybrid
concept and product extremely encouraging.
They liked the fact that the blue flame oil
boiler could be fitted first and the heat pump
added later on, meaning it catered for those
distress purchase situations. Grant now has two
models available 15-21kW and 21-26kW after
a number of installers expressed a desire for a
slightly larger output.
“HYBRIDS LOOK SET TO
BE AN INCREASINGLY
POPULAR HEATING
SOLUTION IN THE
COMING YEARS”
Working on a joint initiative
Opening the door to alternative heating
solutions
However, the development of hybrid products
opens the door to alternative heating solutions
when a distress purchase occurs. A hybrid is a
combination of two or more efficient heating
technologies for example an oil-fired boiler with
an air source heat pump (ASHP), packaged
together to function as one unit to maximise
system efficiency whatever the weather.
A hybrid, such as the Grant VortexAir
combines an oil boiler with a heat pump by
coupling together a VortexBlue blue flame
oil-fired condensing boiler with an Aerona3
inverter driven ASHP. This can be in either one
compact casing with just a single flow and
return connection into the house, or as two
separate units with the boiler section installed
internally.
This combination allows the oil boiler to
be fitted first as a stand-alone unit, replacing
an old appliance and providing immediate
heat and hot water for the householder. The
heat pump can then be fitted externally at a
later date. In the long run, this flexibility and
added value brings sustainability and cost
savings for the householder. It also offers a
chance for installers who are used to fitting oil
boilers to enter the renewables market using
familiar technologies.
There were positive responses from
heating/plumbing installers when the hybrid
was showcased during Grant UK’s off-gas
14 Fuel Oil News | April 2017
Blue flame boilers incorporate the very latest
oil burner technology. For more than two
years both Grant and Riello’s R&D teams have
been working on a joint initiative to develop
a compact blue flame burner and match this
to the Grant’s Vortex condensing oil boiler
range. The principle of combustion differs
from that of a yellow flame burner in that the
combustion gasses are recirculated through a
specially designed blast tube, allowing them to
mix with atomised droplets of fuel and fresh
air (oxygen) drawn in through the burner, to
produce a clean blue flame with far lower NOx
emissions.
Hybrid products, such as the Grant
VortexAir, have advanced controls that
automatically monitor system temperatures,
and the unit will seamlessly switch to the most
cost effective heating method. Working in this
way, the heat pump is able to contribute to
the heat requirement of the house for longer,
thereby reducing running costs and maximising
potential Renewable Heat Incentive payments
for the metered, eligible renewable heat
generated.
In conclusion, hybrid appliances offer a
neat way to solve the immediate issue of boiler
replacement while still offering the value and
flexibility of a renewable system. With installer
training and technical support available,
hybrids look set to be an increasingly popular
heating solution in the coming years.
www.grantuk.com
The Grant VortexAir – a hybrid
combining all the benefits of an
oil boiler with a heat pump