Revolutionizing Indoor Climate: Quilt’s New Three-Zone Heat Pump
Smart home startup Quilt introduced a three-zone heat pump on Tuesday that promises to maintain efficiency even in the kinds of demanding conditions that stymie traditional incumbents.
What Is the Three-Zone Heat Pump?
The innovative three-zone unit from Quilt represents a significant advancement in HVAC technology. As the name suggests, this system utilizes one outdoor unit to power three indoor heads, simplifying large installations and reducing costs. This design not only minimizes the exterior footprint but also aligns with Quilt’s strategic expansion plans, recently bolstered by a $20 million Series B funding round aimed at boosting sales and market presence.
Data-Driven Development
At the core of Quilt’s mission is the extensive data collection from its heat pumps. Unlike standard models, Quilt’s units are equipped with numerous sensors and are internet-connected, allowing the company to gather crucial operational data. This data-centric approach has enabled Quilt to accomplish feats that many of its competitors have yet to achieve. For instance, in September, the startup sent an over-the-air update to its heat pumps in customers’ homes, unlocking an additional 20% capacity, thereby improving comfort levels during extreme weather conditions.
Tackling a Common Industry Challenge
A key innovation of Quilt’s new heat pump lies in its ability to overcome a significant challenge faced by many multi-zone systems. Typically, heat pumps operate at variable speeds to match heating or cooling demands. However, controlling compressors at lower speeds can be problematic. As Matthew Knoll, co-founder and CTO at Quilt, notes, achieving a steady pace is easier at higher speeds, akin to maintaining 70 mph as opposed to just 11 mph. The inefficiencies that arise from this challenge mean that many heat pumps are unable to perform optimally when demands fluctuate.
Fortunately, Quilt’s reliance on real-world data from its existing installations has offered them invaluable insights. They have access to performance data from around a thousand units operating in diverse climates, allowing them to fine-tune their systems to better meet real-world demands.
Brilliant Engineering Solutions
Most traditional systems are typically developed in controlled lab settings, resulting in average products. In contrast, Quilt’s approach is rooted in practical experience. “If we see something, we can evaluate it across various units to identify optimization opportunities or to troubleshoot rare cases,” explains Knoll.
Additionally, Quilt’s use of larger copper coils enables the company to utilize a smaller compressor effectively. This combination allows their heat pumps to maintain nearly 90% of their rated capacity (27,000 BTUs) even at frigid temperatures of -13˚ F (-25˚ C), without compromising efficiency or performance.
Energy Efficiency and Individual Control
Each indoor head in Quilt’s three-zone heat pump can be controlled separately. For instance, it can supply a minimal heat output of 2,210 BTUs or cooling of 1,570 BTUs per unit. This level of customization ensures that if certain zones don’t require heating or cooling, the system can still circulate refrigerant efficiently. Thanks to the outdoor unit’s low-speed capabilities, it can discharge around 300 BTUs while in heating mode—roughly equivalent to the body heat of a person.
Looking Ahead
As for Quilt’s future, Knoll remains tight-lipped but asserts that the company aims to develop solutions for every type of home. Given their data-driven methodology, it’s likely that future products will be informed by insights gathered from their existing systems, leading to continual improvements in efficiency and performance.
For further information, click Here.
Image Credit: techcrunch.com
