What Is a Heat Pump? | How Does a Heat Pump Work?

.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

What Types of Heat Pumps Are There?

The two most common types of heat pumps are air-source and ground-source. Air-source heat pumps transfer heat between indoor air and outdoor air, and are more popular for residential heating and cooling.

Ground-source heat pumps, sometimes called geothermal heat pumps, transfer heat between the air inside your home and the ground outside. These are more expensive to install but are typically more efficient and have a lower operating cost due to the consistency of the ground temperature throughout the year.

HOW DOES A HEAT PUMP WORK?

How does a heat pump work? Heat pumps transfer heat from one place to another by different air or heat sources. Air source heat pumps move heat between the air inside a home and the air outside a home, while ground source heat pumps (known as geothermal heat pumps) transfer heat between the air inside a home and the ground outside a home. We will focus on air source heat pumps, but the basic operation is the same for both.

HEAT PUMP BASICS

Despite the name, heat pumps do not generate heat &#; they move heat from one place to another. A furnace creates heat that is distributed throughout a home, but a heat pump absorbs heat energy from the outside air (even in cold temperatures) and transfers it to the indoor air. When in cooling mode a heat pump and an air conditioner are functionally identical, absorbing heat from the indoor air and releasing it through the outdoor unit. Click here for more information about heat pumps vs air conditioners.

When considering which type of system is best for your home, several important factors should be considered, including the size of the home and the local climate. A local Carrier dealer has the expertise to properly explain heat pumps, evaluate your specific needs and help you make the right decision.

Where Do Heat Pump Systems Work Best?

Homeowners in need of a new heating or cooling system, may consider the type of climate they live in before purchasing a heat pump system. Heat pumps are more common in milder climates, where the temperature does not typically drop below freezing. In colder regions, they can also be combined with furnaces for energy-efficient home heating on all but the coldest days. When the temperature outside drops too low for the heat pump to operate effectively, the system will instead use the furnace to generate heat. This kind of system is often called a dual fuel system &#; it is very energy efficient and cost effective.

.

IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM

A typical air source heat pump system consists of two major components, an outdoor unit (which looks just like the outdoor unit of a split-system air conditioning system) and an indoor air handler unit. Both the indoor and outdoor unit contain various important sub-components.

OUTDOOR UNIT

The outdoor unit contains a coil and a fan. The coil operates as either a condenser (in cooling mode) or an evaporator (in heating mode). The fan blows outside air over the coil to facilitate the heat exchange.

INDOOR UNIT

Like the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, commonly referred to as the air handler unit, contains a coil and a fan. The coil acts as an evaporator (in cooling mode) or a condenser (in heating mode). The fan is responsible for moving air across the coil and throughout the ducts in the home.

REFRIGERANT

The refrigerant is the substance that absorbs and rejects heat as it circulates throughout the heat pump system.

COMPRESSOR

The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant and moves it throughout the system.

REVERSING VALVE

The part of the heat pump system that reverses the flow of refrigerant, allowing the system to operate in the opposite direction and switch between heating and cooling.

EXPANSION VALVE

The expansion valve acts as a metering device, regulating the flow of the refrigerant as it passes through the system, allowing for a reduction of pressure and temperature of the refrigerant.

HOW DOES A HEAT PUMP COOL AND HEAT?

Heat pumps do not create heat. They redistribute heat from the air or ground and use a refrigerant that circulates between the indoor fan coil (air handler) unit and the outdoor compressor to transfer the heat.

In cooling mode, a heat pump absorbs heat inside your home and releases it outdoors. In heating mode, the heat pump absorbs heat from the ground or outside air (even cold air) and releases it indoors.

HOW DO HEAT PUMPS WORK - COOLING MODE

One of the most important things to understand about heat pump operation and the process of transferring heat is that heat energy naturally wants to move to areas with lower temperatures and less pressure. Heat pumps rely on this physical property, putting heat in contact with cooler, lower pressure environments so that the heat can naturally transfer. This is how a heat pump works.

STEP 1

Goto Nancent to know more.

Liquid refrigerant is pumped through an expansion device at the indoor coil, which is functioning as the evaporator. Air from inside the house is blown across the coils, where heat energy is absorbed by the refrigerant. The resulting cool air is blown throughout the home&#;s ducts. The process of absorbing the heat energy has caused the liquid refrigerant to heat up and evaporate into gas form.

STEP 2

The gaseous refrigerant now passes through a compressor, which pressurizes the gas. The process of pressurizing the gas causes it to heat up (a physical property of compressed gases). The hot, pressurized refrigerant moves through the system to the coil in the outdoor unit.

STEP 3

A fan in the outdoor unit moves outside air across the coils, which are serving as condenser coils in cooling mode. Because the air outside the home is cooler than the hot compressed gas refrigerant in the coil, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the outside air. During this process, the refrigerant condenses back to a liquid state as it cools. The warm liquid refrigerant is pumped through the system to the expansion valve at the indoor units.

STEP 4

The expansion valve reduces the pressure of the warm liquid refrigerant, which cools it significantly. At this point, the refrigerant is in a cool, liquid state and ready to be pumped back to the evaporator coil in the indoor unit to begin the cycle again.

HOW DOES A HEAT PUMP WORK - HEATING MODE

A heat pump in heating mode operates just like cooling mode, except that the flow of refrigerant is reversed by the aptly named reversing valve. The flow reversal means that the heating source becomes the outside air (even when outdoor temperatures are low) and the heat energy is released inside the home. The outside coil now has the function of an evaporator, and the indoor coil now has the role of the condenser.

The physics of the process are the same of how a heat pump works in cooling mode. Heat energy is absorbed in the outdoor unit by cool liquid refrigerant, turning it into cold gas. Pressure is then applied to the cold gas, turning it to hot gas. The hot gas is cooled in the indoor unit by passing air, heating the air and condensing the gas to warm liquid. The warm liquid is relieved of pressure as it enters the outdoor unit, turning it to cool liquid and renewing the cycle.

Air Source Heat Pump

HOW DO HEAT PUMP WORKS &#; REVIEW

Electric heat pumps are versatile, efficient cooling and heating systems. Thanks to a reversing valve, a heat pump can change the flow of refrigerant and either heat or cool a home. Air is blown over an evaporator coil, transferring heat energy from the air to the refrigerant. That heat energy is circulated in the refrigerant to a condenser coil, where it is released as a fan blows air across the coil. Through this process, heat is pumped from one place to another.

When it&#;s time to install a new air conditioner in your home, you may be shopping around for the best option. Heat pumps are increasing in popularity for a variety of reasons. If you are interested in heat pump installation in Campbell County, WY, our team is here to help. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about how a heat pump system works and the benefits of investing in this type of system.

How a Heat Pump Works

A heat pump offers both heating and cooling all in a single system. When you have a heat pump, you do not have to have a separate air conditioner and heater. During the summer, your heat pump works by filtering air in, removing heat, and then blowing cool air into your home while releasing the heat and humidity outside. 

When you switch the heat pump over to heating mode, it does the opposite. Then the system pulls in heat from the outside to provide warm air for your home. That&#;s right, even on the coldest days of winter, there is still some heat in the air that can be transferred into your home. Each heat pump system has a switch that allows it to go effortlessly between heating and cooling.

Benefits of a Heat Pump System

The greatest benefit of a heat pump is its energy efficiency. Since it doesn&#;t have to create heat or cold to bring into your home, it is simply transferring energy. This is much easier and therefore a heat pump requires less energy to operate compared to other heaters and air conditioners.

Of course, all new air conditioners are expensive upfront to install. But when it comes to affordability, heat pumps are at the top of the list. They can be much more affordable to install than other types of systems. You can even take your savings and reinvest in a heat pump with even higher SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings to ensure the best energy efficiency available. 

You can also expect your heat pump to last for a long time to come. The average lifespan of a heat pump is around 10-15 years. Plus, heat pumps are better for the environment. When you invest in a heat pump, you can do so with peace of mind that you are making a great environmental choice for your home and community. 

It&#;s also worth mentioning that heat pumps do require biannual maintenance. Some homeowners see this as a downside, but it&#;s really no different than having a separate air conditioner and heater. If you have a heat pump HVAC system, you are scheduling annual maintenance once for the system as an air conditioner and once for the system as a heater. If your systems were separate, you would still be scheduling the same number of maintenance appointments each year.

Schedule an appointment with the team at Climate Solutions, Inc. The trusted source for all your heating and cooling needs.

The company is the world’s best Heat and Cool Heat Pump supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.