Grant, a leading heating technology manufacturer, has launched its new QR hot water cylinder range to meet the evolving needs of Irish homes and heating systems. The range is designed for modern heat pumps used in new-build and deep retrofit projects.

The €8 million investment in the QR range is part of Grant’s broader focus on integrated heating technologies for the changing Irish housing market. The cylinders are manufactured in Birr, Co. Offaly, at Grant’s expanded facilities.

Addressing heat pump efficiency challenges

Peter Darcy, R&D Manager at Grant, explained the motivation behind the QR range: Our objective was to ensure domestic hot-water storage no longer limits the performance of modern heat pump systems. Many traditional cylinders, designed for higher-temperature oil or gas boilers, struggle with heat transfer when paired with heat pumps, leading to slower recovery and reduced efficiency.

The QR range was developed specifically for low-temperature heating systems, focusing on effective heat transfer and integrated system performance. The process included prototype testing, product refinement, and certification to ensure reliability and practicality.

Investment and manufacturing expansion

The QR range’s development included an €8 million investment in product development and production facilities in Birr, Co. Offaly. This expansion supports Grant’s strategy to develop and manufacture heating technologies for Ireland and beyond.

The manufacturing process in Birr focused on achieving heat-transfer performance, reliability, and installation practicality, from initial concept to certification and validation.

Design features and configurations

The QR cylinders feature high-efficiency heat exchange coils and an optimized internal design to support heat transfer at lower primary flow temperatures. Factors like coil construction, insulation, and internal design were key considerations.

The range offers capacities from 150 to 300 litres and includes Standard, Slimline, Smart Pre-Plumbed, and Smart Integrated configurations, catering to various property types and project needs.

Integration with heat pump technology

The QR range was developed alongside Grant’s Aerona R290 heat pump, allowing the R&D team to optimize the interaction between the heat pump and cylinder. Installer feedback influenced the design, focusing on ease of installation and factory-fitted components.

Grant’s Heating Design & Specification Service provides support throughout the heating project journey, ensuring technologies are correctly sized and specified to work together.