Climate change and rising energy costs have led to the increased use of heat pumps as a more efficient and sustainable alternative to gas and oil heating systems. However, traditional heat pumps rely on refrigerants, which are potent greenhouse gases. French startup Equium has developed a novel solution to this problem with their Acoustic Heat Pump (AHP).
The AHP utilizes the energy of sound to power a heat pump without the use of refrigerants. It works by using a high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) speaker to generate an acoustic wave in tubes filled with helium, a neutral and non-toxic gas. This wave causes the gas to compress or expand, producing heat or cold respectively. The system is completely silent and eco-friendly, as it is made from 100% recyclable materials and has a very low carbon footprint.
The AHP also boasts increased energy savings and overall cost-effectiveness, as users can modulate the speaker's volume to achieve the desired power output. Additionally, the system is easy to install, requires no maintenance, and has a lifespan of around 30 years, twice as long as a conventional heat pump.
Equium aims to sell its acoustic cores to heat pump manufacturers, with the goal of developing a French acoustic heat pump industry. The first integration of the AHP will be processed by the startup's strategic partner Arkteos, a regional manufacturer. Field tests are currently being conducted and the product is expected to hit the market in 2024.
The company's founder, Cédric François, states that for an equivalent cost and size, the AHP's advantage translates to a 50% lower CO2 impact and a 20% lower energy consumption. Equium currently has one competitor in this new market, Netherlands-based BlueHeart Energy, but hopefully, more companies will start to tap into the capabilities of thermoacoustics to revolutionize heat pump technology.