At Zanang County Middle School in Shannan City, Tibet, a clean energy heating project is helping create a warmer and more comfortable learning environment for thousands of teachers and students. Located at an altitude of approximately 3,680 meters, the school faces the demanding challenges of thin air, extremely cold winters, long heating seasons, and significant daily temperature variations. To overcome these challenges, AIROSD developed and installed a reliable high-altitude heating solution based on advanced Air-source heat pumps and ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps.
Heating Challenges in High-Altitude Areas
Zanang County is located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. With an average altitude of around 3,680 meters, the area has a plateau temperate semi-arid monsoon climate. Winters are long and cold, with extreme temperatures approaching -20°C and daily temperature differences reaching approximately 14.4°C.
For schools in such environments, stable winter heating is essential. Traditional heating methods can consume large amounts of energy while creating environmental pollution and requiring complicated maintenance. Meanwhile, the low air density at high altitudes can reduce the heating performance of conventional heat pump equipment.
AIROSD's Air-source heat pumps were selected to provide a cleaner and more efficient alternative. The project demonstrates how ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps can be adapted to demanding plateau conditions and provide stable heating for large educational buildings.
Customized Heat Pump System for the School
For Zanang County Middle School, AIROSD Air-source heat pumps designed a customized heat pump systems solution according to the school's building characteristics, heating requirements, and local climate conditions. Dozens of 120 HP ultra-low temperature air-source heat pumps units were installed and integrated with an intelligent control system for centralized operation and management.
The system uses ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps as its core heating equipment. The heat pump units work together with radiator terminals to distribute heat throughout classrooms and other school buildings, helping maintain a comfortable indoor environment during the long winter season.
Compared with conventional heating equipment, Air-source heat pumps absorb heat energy from the outdoor air and transfer it indoors through a highly efficient refrigeration cycle. This allows the school to utilize renewable ambient heat while reducing dependence on traditional fossil-fuel-based heating.
The project also demonstrates the flexibility of modern heat pump systems. Through centralized intelligent control, operators can monitor operating conditions, adjust heating parameters, and manage multiple units according to actual demand. This improves operational reliability while making the overall heating process easier to manage.
EVI Heat Pump Technology for Extreme Cold Conditions
One of the key technologies behind the project's performance is EVI heat pump technology. EVI, or Enhanced Vapor Injection,EVI heat pump technology is designed to improve heating capacity and efficiency under low ambient temperatures.
Under extremely cold conditions, conventional heat pumps may experience a significant reduction in heating capacity. EVI heat pump technology addresses this challenge by injecting refrigerant vapor into the compression process, effectively increasing the refrigerant mass flow and improving low-temperature heating performance.
AIROSD combines EVI heat pump technology with a full DC inverter system to enhance the stability of ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps in harsh climates. The EVI heat pump technology enables the units to maintain reliable operation even under extremely low ambient temperatures, helping reduce heating capacity attenuation and ensuring continuous heat supply.
For high-altitude applications, EVI heat pump technology is particularly important. Because the air is thinner at elevations such as 3,680 meters, equipment needs to be carefully designed and tested to maintain reliable heat transfer and compressor performance. The combination of EVI heat pump technology, EVI heat pump technology advanced inverter control, and optimized system design provides an effective solution for these conditions.
Tested for Ultra-Low Temperature Operation
AIROSD Air-source heat pumps has established a comprehensive ultra-low ambient temperature air-source heat pump performance laboratory for product development and testing. Heat pump units undergo rigorous testing before leaving the factory to verify their performance and reliability under challenging operating conditions.
The Air-source heat pumps used in high-altitude applications are designed with multiple protection and control functions. These include intelligent defrosting, anti-secondary icing technology, and multiple temperature monitoring points. Such technologies help maintain stable operation when outdoor temperatures fluctuate significantly.
The combination of ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps and intelligent control allows the system to respond to changing weather conditions and heating loads. This is especially valuable for schools, where stable indoor temperatures are important for students and teachers throughout the day.
Although the Zanang project is primarily focused on heating, AIROSD also develops heating and cooling heat pumps for commercial and institutional buildings. Depending on project requirements, different heat pump systems can be configured for heating, cooling, domestic hot water, or integrated energy solutions.
Reliable Clean Heating for High-Altitude Schools
The successful implementation of the Zanang County Middle School project reflects AIROSD's experience in high-altitude clean energy heating. From equipment transportation and installation to commissioning and system operation, the AIROSD team worked under challenging plateau conditions and completed the project before the heating season.
Today, the project provides a warmer environment for students and teachers during the cold Tibetan winter. The application of Air-source heat pumps helps replace traditional high-energy-consumption heating methods with a cleaner energy solution, while the intelligent heat pump systems provide centralized and reliable heating management.
According to feedback from the school, after the installation of the air-source heating system, classrooms became significantly warmer and more comfortable during winter. This practical result demonstrates the value of applying ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps to high-altitude educational facilities.
AIROSD Air-source heat pumps: Experience in High-Altitude Heating
The Zanang County Middle School project is one example of AIROSD's high-altitude clean energy applications in Tibet. AIROSD Air-source heat pumps have been used in more than 20 high-altitude schools, covering over 300,000 square meters of building area.
From EVI heat pump technology to full DC inverter control, from ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps to complete heat pump systems, AIROSD continues to develop solutions for extreme climate environments.
For schools, hospitals, hotels, public buildings, and other facilities located in cold and high-altitude regions, AIROSD Air-source heat pumps can provide customized Air-source heat pumps, heating and cooling heat pumps, and integrated heat pump systems according to local climate, building characteristics, and heating requirements.
The Zanang County Middle School project demonstrates that clean, efficient, and reliable heating is achievable even in high-altitude and extremely cold environments. With advanced EVI heat pump technology, carefully engineered ultra-low temperature heating heat pumps, and comprehensive system integration, AIROSD is helping more high-altitude communities transition toward cleaner and more sustainable heating.