French startup uses hi-fi speakers to develop eco-friendly heat pumps
Amid the climate and energy crisis, heat pumps have emerged in the home heating market as a technology that can replace gas and oil while reducing energy bills. Yet their air compression systems require refrigerants to operate. These refrigerants, also known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are among the most potent greenhouse gases.
Founded in 2017 and have raised €5 million, French deep tech startup Balance strives for a more ecological alternative. To this end, it has developed a new acoustic heat pump core that harnesses the energy of sound.
The so-called acoustic heat pump (AHP) can cover the heating needs of a household without the use of refrigerants. Instead, its operation is based on the phenomenon of thermoacoustics – the convergence of thermals, acoustics and fluid mechanics.
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The core works with a high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) loudspeaker powered by electricity, which generates an acoustic wave in tubes filled with helium – a neutral and non-toxic gas that accelerates the propagation of sound. The acoustic wave causes the gas to compress or expand, creating heat or cold, respectively. It remains locked into the system, allowing the machine to be silent.
According to Equium, the heat pump is not only greenhouse gas free, but also made from 100% recyclable materials, which generally has a very low carbon footprint. At the same time, the machine’s ecological operation is claimed to provide the same efficiency as a conventional heat pump, while increasing energy savings and overall costs.
A big part of that is the modulation of the pump, which allows users to increase or decrease the volume of the speaker to achieve the desired output power. Furthermore, the system is easy to install, requires no maintenance and has a lifespan of about 30 years. twice as long as a conventional heat pump.
According to the founder of the startup, Cédric Françoisfor a similar price and size, the benefit of the AHP translates into a 50% lower carbon impact and a 20% lower energy consumption.
Equium’s goal is to sell its acoustic cores to heat pump manufacturers, who want to develop a French acoustic HP industry. The first integration will be processed by the startup’s strategic partner Arktos, a regional manufacturer. The company is currently conducting field tests and expects to do so to market its product in 2024.
To date, the young French startup has only one competitor in this brand new market: in the Netherlands BlueHeart energy. But hopefully, more companies will start leveraging the capabilities of thermoacoustics to revolutionize heat pump technology.
