Lochinvar Amicus Aquastore Installation Planning Guide

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Introduction

This document provides essential information for the Design team from stage 2 to stage 5 of a project. The Amicus Aquastore is a packaged heat pump water heater designed for indoor plantroom installation, capable of providing Domestic Hot Water (DHW) at temperatures up to 65°C. The range includes three models, each with an 8 kW heat pump and immersion backup options from 6 kW to 12 kW.

The Aquastore offers three operating modes:

• Efficiency mode: Most efficient operation, with immersion heaters used only in extreme circumstances.
• Hybrid mode: Utilizes immersion heaters more frequently to increase DHW production.
• Electric mode: Uses immersion heaters exclusively for tank pasteurization or as backup in case of refrigerant system failure.

Standard features include:

• 8 kW heat pump output
• Plug & Play installation with a space-saving design
• Touch screen display for settings and status reports
• Monoblock construction
• 445-litre storage capacity with an external coil for direct refrigerant heating
• 65°C output in heat pump mode, 82°C in Electric mode
• Recovery rate of up to 250 l/hr @ 50°C temperature rise in Efficiency mode, and up to 350 l/hr in Hybrid mode
• Built-in redundancy with up to 12 kW immersion backup

Sizing

The Aquastore can be sized for Efficiency or Hybrid mode using the provided tables. The tables illustrate typical one-hour peak supply utilizing stored water and recovery. Sizing requires careful consideration of hot water load and peak demand periods. Lochinvar offers sizing assistance; contact your local area sales manager or email info@lochinvar.ltd.uk.

Operational Limits (Heat Pump Only): The Amicus Aquastore can deliver DHW up to 65°C in Hybrid mode and 85°C in Power mode (using electric elements only). The operational limits diagram shows the heat pump's performance range. Outside these limits, immersion heaters will activate to reach the 65°C setpoint.

Diagram Description: A line graph showing the operational limits of the heat pump. The Y-axis represents 'Outside air temperature' (°C) from 0 to 25. The X-axis represents 'Maximum flow temperature (Heat pump only)' (°C) from 35 to 65. The operational area is a red rectangle indicating that the heat pump can operate within specific air and flow temperature ranges.

General

The Amicus Aquastore should be installed in a plantroom that can support its weight, provides adequate space for maintenance, does not cause noise nuisance, and has sufficient ventilation.

Operational limits

The unit can provide DHW up to 65°C in Hybrid mode and 85°C in Electric mode (for pasteurization). The diagram below illustrates the heat pump's general working limits. Outside these parameters, immersion heaters will be used to achieve the 65°C setpoint.

Diagram Description: A line graph titled 'Drawing 1 operational limits'. The Y-axis is 'Outside air temperature' (°C) ranging from 0 to 25. The X-axis is 'Maximum flow temperature (Heat pump only)' (°C) ranging from 35 to 65. A red boundary defines the operational zone for the heat pump.

Technical Details

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 2 Dimensions' shows front and top views of the Amicus Aquastore unit with various dimensions labeled (A, D, E, M, B, R, S, W) and connection points numbered (1, 2, 4, 5).

Position on Site

The Amicus Aquastore is designed for indoor plantroom installation only. The plantroom must be sufficiently large to prevent excessive cooling during unit operation. The required size depends on the heat pump's usage patterns, with larger peak demands necessitating larger plantrooms.

If the plantroom contains appliances with open flues, ensure the Aquastore does not affect their combustion. A qualified gas engineer should assess the installation. Minimum clearances are required around the unit for maintenance.

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 3 clearances single unit' illustrates the required clearances for a single unit. The front view shows a 1000mm clearance. The top view shows 610mm clearances on both sides. A 1000mm clearance is indicated below the unit for the condensate drain.

A minimum clearance of 1000 mm must be maintained at the front to ensure unobstructed airflow from the exhaust fans. Side clearances are necessary for maintenance, such as removing immersion heaters. The unit should be placed on a base of at least 100 mm, with a suitable metal base available from Lochinvar (item number LV337941).

Airflow

The Amicus Aquastore requires a continuous airflow of 2275 m³/h across the evaporator. Insufficient airflow, indicated by the plantroom air temperature dropping by more than 8°C, requires increased ventilation. Drawing air from an indoor space enhances seasonal efficiency. If the unit is in a plantroom, ventilation should be calculated as per Table 3, with inlet and exhaust air louvers provided as shown in 'Drawing 4 airflow requirements'.

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 4 airflow requirements' depicts a plantroom with louvred doors, illustrating the need for air intake and exhaust.

Diagram Description: A photograph shows a Lochinvar Amicus Aquastore unit installed in a plantroom, connected to plumbing.

Key to chart: V = room volume in m³. Bottom numbers indicate minimum plant room temperature. Left-hand numbers indicate ventilation required in m³/hr.

Example airflow calculation 1: For a plantroom of 7m x 6m x 2.5m (105 m³), if the temperature should not drop below 5°C, 2000 m³/hr of air into and exhaust from the plant room is required.

Example airflow calculation 2: For a warehouse space of 40m x 25m x 6m (6000 m³), additional ventilation is not required.

Positioning Multiple Units

When installing multiple units, observe minimum distances as per Drawing 3. Airflow requirements will increase. Contact Lochinvar technical support for guidance.

Diagram Description: A graph titled 'Ventilation need [m³/h]' on the Y-axis and a scale from 0 to 18 on the X-axis. Multiple colored lines represent different room volumes (V=10 m³ to V=1000 m³), showing ventilation requirements based on room size.

Installation

Amicus Aquastore units can be installed individually or in multiples. For applications with large peak loads followed by periods of limited demand (e.g., sports facilities), a buffer vessel can be used with the Aquastore to reduce capital costs and maintain efficient hot water production without excessive use of immersion heaters. See 'Drawing 7-Aquastore with buffer vessel'.

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 5- Single Aquastore on an unvented system' shows a schematic of a single Aquastore unit connected to a DHW flow line, with cold feed and building flow lines. It includes various components like isolation valves, pumps, expansion vessels, and a T&P relief valve.

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 6- Multiple Aquastore on an unvented system' shows a schematic of two Aquastore units connected in parallel to a DHW flow line, with cold feed and building flow lines. It includes similar components as the single unit diagram.

Diagram Description: 'Drawing 7-Aquastore with buffer vessel' shows a schematic of an Aquastore unit connected to a buffer vessel, with cold feed and building flow lines, and a DHW flow line.

A suitable unvented systems kit (item number WH15A-RF) is available from Lochinvar, including a 22 mm monoblock with pressure reducing valve, non-return valve, 6 bar pressure relief valve, a 3/4" temperature and pressure relief valve, a 22 mm tundish, and a 25-litre flow-through expansion vessel with a flow-through valve.

To improve stratification, a de-stratification pump kit (item number WH9) is available from Lochinvar. This kit includes a bronze pump, gate valves, and an NRV.

Diagram Description: Two views (side and top) of a pump, showing dimensions like 75, 51, 130, 32, 102.

Electrical Connections

All models require a 3-phase supply with the following electrical requirements:

A lockable isolator should be fitted near the heat pump for local isolation. A 230v plug socket should also be installed nearby for commissioning and maintenance.

Diagram Description: A table showing electrical connection phases L1, L2, L3, N, and PE (Earth).

Installation Assistance

Lochinvar offers expert assistance to designers and installers. Correct calculation of plantroom size and ventilation is crucial before commissioning. Refer to the 'Position on site' section for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can Aquastore be fitted outside?

A1: No, the Aquastore is not rated for outdoor installation and must be installed inside a plantroom or suitable space.

Q2: Does the Aquastore have BMS Connectivity?

A2: No, the Aquastore is a plug-and-play water heater and does not feature BMS connectivity.

Q3: What is the maximum working temperature of Aquastore?

A3: In Efficiency or Hybrid mode, the maximum water temperature is 65°C. In Power mode, using only immersion heaters, the maximum working temperature is 85°C.

Q4: Why are the clearances around the unit so large?

A4: The clearances ensure adequate airflow for operation and are essential for service and maintenance access to internal components.

Q5: Why is the Amps per phase not balanced?

A5: The Aquastore is a single-phase unit that requires a three-phase supply due to its high power demand. Each phase supplies a 230V to different parts of the heat pump, as detailed in Table 4.