Trench heaters and fan coils for heat pumps

Heat pumps are the fastest-growing heat source in professional HVAC, but they only reach their efficiency potential when paired with the right emitters. Because a heat pump delivers water at a much lower flow temperature than a gas boiler, the heat emitter has to release enough heat from cooler water. Hydronic trench heaters and fan coils are built exactly for this: they combine a large heat-exchange surface with EC fan assistance, so they perform at the low water temperatures heat pumps prefer.

Why heat pumps need low-temperature emitters

A heat pump is most efficient (highest COP) when it supplies water at around 35–45 °C rather than the 60–75 °C typical of older systems. Standard radiators sized for high temperatures become undersized at these lower temperatures, so the room never reaches setpoint. The solution is an emitter that either has a very large surface or uses a fan to move more air across the coil. Trench heaters with fans and fan coils do both, making them a natural match for air-source and ground-source heat pumps.

Trench heaters with fans (FH4) for heat pumps

Konveka FH4-M and FH4-H trench heaters use tangential EC fans to deliver high heat output from low-temperature water while staying recessed in the floor. They are ideal along glazed facades and floor-to-ceiling windows, where they also block cold downdraught. Because output is fan-assisted, the units keep rooms warm even when the heat pump runs at an efficient low flow temperature.

Fan coils: heating and cooling from one unit

Where a project needs both heating and cooling, fan coils connected to a reversible heat pump (or a chiller/heat-pump combination) provide both from a single hydronic circuit. Konveka ducted (DF), cassette (CF), wall-mounted (HWF) and recessed floor fan coils (FCH/FCHV) cover ceiling, wall and floor installation, so specifiers can match the emitter to the architecture without adding a separate cooling system.

Where they fit best

Offices, hotels, showrooms, airports and residential projects with large glazing all benefit from heat-pump-ready emitters. Trench heaters handle the perimeter and glazing; fan coils handle zone heating and cooling. Together they let a building run entirely on a heat pump while keeping equipment out of sight.

Related products: Trench heaters · Fan coils