Domestic heating is a big issue, and no at the moment heat pumps aren't up to the job in older properties.
I have wondered if it would be possible to develop a combination fuel/heat pump boiler for older less well insulated properties. Maybe using a combination of air source and a small boiler as a booster to add a bit more energy to the mix. Unfortunately air source systems just don't provide enough heat energy to comfortably warm an old house, even houses from the later 90s will struggle to be warm using a heat pump.
wonder if using a buffer tank to stop boiler from cycling , linked to a hot water cylinder with a double coil
using The hot water to pump round the rads , with the twin coil maybe one off a heat pump and the other off boiler
done Many systems with the twin coil, one coil off solar, other was the boiler
control wise can a fit 3 x port to switch between hot water and heating , however depending on volume might have to do a priority setting, plus correct sizing of zone valves in relation to btu rating
indeed with any heat pump need to prevent it from cycling , another issue of course if ensuring it doesn’t use the internal electric element when there’s a short fall
so handy using a buffer / hot water store to use for the rads, will also need a program to heat the water to 60c for the legionaries
totally agree that heat pumps arnt any good for older properties , ie, bad insulation along with then having to oversize the rads , many reasons why buffer tanks are ideal to prevent the cycling , really enjoyed designing quite a few heating systems , but alas heating has advanced more and more in the last 10 x years
also there’s an issue with low temperature water, was ideal for UFH but on rads along with the higher temps of the boiler flow and returns need to work out the delta t , or air temps req in each room, air changes , mixers are sometimes required
main issue would of course Be the range of water temperatures , but again using a buffer tank will help equalise that
hope that waffle sort of makes sense
just a few ideas my friend