After a fire destroyed its sewage treatment plant, Australia’s Charlotte Pass Snow Resort rebuilt it using air-to-water propane (R290) heat pumps produced by Australian manufacturer Automatic Heating.
The resort installed three Revere CHE-060 high-temperature DC inverter heat pumps, with each unit providing a heating capacity of 60kW (17TR), Terry Plaisted, Director at Automatic Heating, told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
According to Plaisted, the units provide outlet flow temperatures between 65 and 70°C (149 and158°F) in ambient temperatures as low as −20°C (−4°F) for water filtration and treatment.
“The resort chose an R290 solution for its ability to reach the required operating temperature in low ambient conditions and its environmental advantages as a low-GWP natural refrigerant,” Plaisted told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
Charlotte Pass: As Australia’s highest ski resort at an elevation of 1,760m (5,774ft), the remote location and severe weather conditions create infrastructure challenges, with temperatures regularly dropping below −10°C (14°F).
- According to the resort, the new sewage treatment plant was installed in sub-zero conditions, with system completion on June 23. Charlotte Pass opened its season as scheduled on July 5.
Revere CHE specifications: According to Automatic Heating, the series is for outdoor installations only.
- It comes with an option for a cascade installation, with six models offering heating capacities from 8‒60kW (2.3‒17TR) and COPs up to 4.2.
- The heat pumps function in ambient temperatures from −25 to 43°C (−13 to 109.4°F), with the smallest 8KW unit charged with 0.5kg of propane and the largest 60kW unit containing two circuits each charged with 1.25kg.
- “DC inverter technology allows for precise adjustments in output and compressor speed, resulting in energy efficiency, consistent comfort, and a quiet indoor environment,” the company says on its website.
Other sustainable products: Automatic Heating also offers CO₂ (R744) heat pump solutions.
- The Australian company locally distributes Japanese manufacturer Itomic’s large-scale air-to-water CO2 CHP-80Y heat pump water heater, with heating capacities ranging from 5‒80kW (1.4‒22.7TR) with outflow temperatures up to 90°C (194°F). The unit ‒ approved for rebates by the Australian government ‒ operates with a COP of up to 4.2
- Automatic Heating also has a water-to-water CO2 heat pump that provides simultaneous heating and cooling. The heating capacities of the series range from 8‒156kW (2.3‒44.4TR) with a COP of up to 5.1 and cooling capacities ranging from 6‒119kW (1.7‒33.8TR) with a COP of up to 4.12.
Quotable: “With a devastating fire threatening the opening of the resort’s 2024 season, Charlotte Pass required an immediate solution,” Automatic Heating said. “[We] provided an efficient, environmentally-friendly solution with a custom packaged heating system featuring Revere CHE Series R290 heat pumps to handle the harsh conditions.”
