Pipelife launches indoor R290 heat pump for Irish apartments

Pipelife Ireland has launched a new indoor monoblock heat pump designed specifically for Irish apartment installations.

The "Inova" indoor heat pump houses its fan, coil, compressor, and expansion valve within a single unit located entirely inside the dwelling. The system operates by drawing and exhausting air through a series of ducts, eliminating the need for an external outdoor unit.

The system utilizes R290 (propane) as an ultra-low global warming potential refrigerant, featuring a fully sealed charge of 450 grams to remain within safety limits for indoor installations. Built-in safety features include a gas separator to prevent refrigerant from entering the water circuit, and an internal gas sensor designed to ramp the fan to 100 per cent capacity to vent any leaks safely outdoors.

To reflect real-world building conditions rather than idealised laboratory settings, Pipelife has based its published performance figures on a worst-case scenario. The testing baseline assumes the unit is positioned 10 metres away from an external wall, requiring the ductwork to navigate three 90-degree bends.