Experts from the VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) have built a new type of hybrid heating system. It combines a heat pump and a pellet boiler in one unit, with an intelligent control system. The device can heat family houses, public buildings, and even industrial facilities. Its purpose is to reduce heat costs.
The device combines biomass combustion in the form of wood pellets with a heat pump. University staff collaborated with a private company to develop it.
"The idea for the new hybrid device was conceived about five years ago in an effort to offer a new concept to the market. Subsequent changes triggered by the geopolitical situation, including the energy crisis related to the conflict in Ukraine, have proven that it was a very visionary and strategic decision," said the university spokesperson, Petra Halíková.
She added that the research took approximately three years and was financially supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
"The goal was to combine the best of biomass combustion and heat pump technologies. The result is a unique hybrid pellet boiler, unlike anything else in Europe. The hybrid operation always allows for a cheaper solution than if only one of the listed heat sources were available," explained Leopold Benda, the project leader from the collaborating company BENEKOVterm.
Smart Control System
In addition to combining both methods of heat generation, the device is also unique thanks to its control system, which the scientists developed specifically for this purpose, according to Halíková.
"The control unit independently evaluates, based on the needs of the building and the cost of input resources — that is, electricity or pellets — when it is more economical to heat with pellets and when it is better to use the heat pump. It then automatically activates the appropriate component. This eliminates the need for human intervention and system operation. Our solution is therefore not only comprehensive but also smart," emphasized Jiří Horák from the Energy Research Centre CEET (Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies).
According to him, during the development of three versions of the device, with heating capacities of 10, 25, and 90 kilowatts for different types of buildings, the researchers drew on their many years of expertise.
"Our long-term goal is to contribute to increasing the efficiency of heat production and reducing emissions of pollutants. The hybrid device we have developed is one way to move away from fossil fuels while still providing a user-friendly solution. It also offers a certain degree of freedom, as the user is not dependent on a single heat source," Horák stated.
The authors expect that, thanks to the lower operating costs of the hybrid system compared to a standalone heat pump or a standalone biomass boiler, the device will be attractive to investors. The price of the most popular version of the hybrid boiler, with a heating capacity of 25 kW, starts at around 400,000 Czech crowns.