Heat Pump Manufacturers Recommending Buffer Tanks
I have read and viewed lots of information about buffer tanks in heat pump systems. Renewable Heating Hub and Heat Geek are generally against them and this appears to be backed up by the excellent research paper that Brendon Uys commissioned.
I am surprised to find buffer tanks are recommended for ASHPs, because none of my family has a buffer system in their gas central heating system.
I am getting quotes for an ASHP. One of the installers routinely installs buffer tanks. Another installs them, "when needed".
This second installer installs Midea and Stiebel Eltron heat pumps. He says Midea are mid-market and Stiebel Eltron are high-end. I researched the Stiebel Eltron and discovered that their indoor unit includes a buffer tank and secondary pump.
I queried this on a Stiebel Eltron YouTube video. Here is the discussion.
GF: "Why do you need the buffer tank? The reason I ask is that typically the flow rates will be different between the primary and secondary water circuits. This leads to mixing of water in the buffer tank. This results in distortion - the secondary circuit runs at a lower flow temperature than the primary circuit. Therefore, the heat pump has to run at a higher flow temperature to achieve a given flow temperature in the emitters. This reduces efficiency."
@tanklesswaterheaters5863: "The buffer tank is needed for hydraulic separation of the source and load sides of the system. Both the source and load sides will have different flow characteristics and need to be separated. In addition, the buffer tank adds system volume allowing longer run times and provides stored energy for quick response. Any micro zones in the system will be absorbed into the buffer tank and may not require a call for heat to the heat pump. A hydraulic separator could also be used if the system zones are a match to the minimum input of the heat pump. The buffer tank provides extra cushion to ensure proper operation and longevity of the equipment."
GF: "Very helpful thanks. If you have a system with just radiators, could you manage without the buffer tank?"
@tanklesswaterheaters5863: "If the radiators are zoned individually, using thermostatic heads, this could create a micro zone situation with very low flow and low load requirements. Low flow and load would cause the HP to short cycle. If there are several radiators on one zone, the load is higher, and less potential for short cycling. But either way, we need to separate the HP flow from the radiator flow because they will be different, and a buffer tank works perfectly for this. The Stiebel Eltron installation manual says that a buffer tank is required, and that’s mostly to cover all installation situations. Typically the buffer tank can be small, 20-40 gallons."
Therefore, it seems that if you buy a Stiebel Eltron, you have no choice but to install their buffer tank. I wonder how many manufacturers are effectively mandating them?
Welcome to the forums Graham.
The idea that we need a buffer because of mismatched flows between source and load is rooted more in legacy commercial boiler design and installer habit than in good, modern low-temperature system design. The real issue here is system design… if your system is designed correctly from the start, with sufficient emitter surface area, proper modulation and sensible zoning (or better still, open-loop operation), then there’s typically no need for hydraulic separation or added volume.
Regarding Stiebel Eltron, you’re right. I think their integrated indoor units include a buffer tank by default. Aira is another one that comes to mind. This isn’t necessarily because it’s best practice for every home, but because it simplifies compatibility across a wide range of installer skill levels and property types. It’s a belt-and-braces design choice to minimise the chance of complaints about short cycling or erratic flow rates; but that doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient or elegant solution. In fact, if the heat pump is matched well to the load and the system volume is sufficient, that internal buffer becomes largely redundant. The problem is that a massive portion of heat pump installers don’t have the technical knowledge or training to design a low temperature heating system, so the buffer just tapes over their shortfallings.
The YouTube commenter’s points are technically correct in principle. Yes, a buffer can absorb micro-zoning and add volume, but the problem is that this comes at the cost of efficiency, which is sometimes significant. Stored volume isn’t the same as stored heat, and distortion (blending) across a buffer can quickly lead to lower emitter temps, longer runtimes and reduced COPs.
In terms of manufacturers mandating buffers, yes, some still do, particularly in their documentation or when using certain accessories like low-loss headers. But “mandated” and “required for good performance” aren’t always the same thing. Often it’s a lowest-common-denominator recommendation to avoid customer service issues, not necessarily to deliver the best efficiency or long-term outcome.
If one installer is pushing buffers routinely and another is using them only when needed, I’d lean toward the latter, provided they can explain what design measures they’re putting in place to ensure stable operation without it. For most domestic installations, a good installer can get it done without a buffer tank, but depending on pipe sizing and existing zoning, they might fit a volumiser. The most efficient systems we’ve seen tend to be unbuffered and open-loop.
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Posted by: @grahamfStiebel Eltron
If you are willing to pay rolls Royce prices for a heat pump you may as well follow their instructions, to get the warranty - but I wouldn't.
If you do one zone, you really don't need a buffer, if you zone or micro zone you have no choice really. There are different ways to plumb a buffer as well to help prevent distortion.
Just because someone has posted a video doesn't really make them an expert!
So the question not answered is - are you zoning, do you TRVs on all radiators etc?
Posted by: @AnonymousIf you are willing to pay rolls Royce prices for a heat pump you may as well follow their instructions, to get the warranty - but I wouldn't.
I don’t think I’d be willing to personally put it to the test, but I do think there’s a reasonable argument that you could successfully challenge a voided heat pump warranty just because a buffer tank wasn’t fitted… even if the manufacturer’s documentation recommends one.
If a system has been professionally designed, installed to recognised standards and commissioned correctly without a buffer (especially where one isn’t required by Building Regs or MCS), then it’s not cut and dry for a manufacturer to simply walk away.
That said, this is a murky area, and most homeowners understandably won’t want the stress of a legal battle or the hassle of proving a system was compliant. Manufacturers know this, which is why many lean on strict T&Cs to protect themselves. But are those conditions always legally enforceable? Not necessarily.
I’ve broken this down in more detail in a recent article if anyone’s interested: https://renewableheatinghub.co.uk/fact-or-fiction-are-buffer-tanks-really-necessary-to-protect-your-heat-pump-warranty/
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One manufacturer Viessmann has to have their buffer, as it's used and only used during defrosting.
@johnmo it is a 5 bedroom detached house built in 1968 with about 350m2 spread across two floors. It has 28 radiators.
We plan to run a single zone with TRVs in the bedrooms for cool sleepers and in one downstairs room that has a lot of solar gain. If all 11 radiators turned off at the same time, we would still have 17 radiators running.
We will also use weather compensation with an internal thermostat set several degrees above our target temperature, just in case the weather compensation is adjusted wrongly.
@johnmo installer 1 uses Viessmann heat pumps and I must say I like their technology. I have wondered about their indoor unit. Is it really a buffer tank or a volumiser in the internal unit? Interestingly the internal unit contains a water pump. I'm not sure why.
@damon you've fitted a few Viessmann's – can you please elaborate a bit about the buffer/volumiser on these units?
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Posted by: @grahamfIs it really a buffer tank or a volumiser in the internal unit? Interestingly the internal unit contains a water pump. I'm not sure why.
Not a buffer or volumiser in the normal sense. The buffer only gets used during defrosting, heating the buffer up prior to defrosting to a high temperature, then using only the energy within the buffer during defrost. It is then isolated. Seen results of this arrangement and the CoP overall was better than the normal arrangement.
The water pump is the circulation pump for ASHP, just located inside not outside.
@editor it’s a defrost buffer,
it uses an Esbe 4 way valve in a three way configuration, hot water, buffer, heating.
when it senses it requires a defrost it loads the buffer to around 55/60°c and uses this to defrost. So on a direct system it doesn’t impact the house load or temp.
a caveat to this is, it only seems to use the defrost buffer on the double fanned units and not the single. Plenty of examples on oem. Not sure why it does this, and your not really saying it become a problem apart from on oem.
but when you are trying to squeeze every bit of efficiency it does seem stangez
still in my opinion the best Heatpump on the market and my choice always.
Professional heat pump installer
@grahamf, is this for your home or your other project? If it’s for both, even though Damon is based out of Yorkshire, he does take on bigger projects across the country, and I would highly recommend him because he’s definitely one of the best installers in the UK. Let me know if you’d like me to connect him with you.
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