Air Source Heat Pump Working Principle

Air source heat pump introduction:

The air source heat pump passes the heat of the refrigerant from the outside air. Then, the heat is passed through a radiator (floor heating or heating convector) to provide heating or hot water.

The air source heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air in the same way as the inside of the refrigerator. Even when the outside temperature is as low as -15°C, heat can be obtained from the air. This operation not only saves fuel costs and effectively reduces harmful CO2 emissions.

The air source heat pump system consists of four main elements, which enable the transfer of refrigerant from liquid to gas:

Evaporator

compressor

Condenser

Expansion valve

1. Evaporator

The heat is taken from the outside into the heat exchanger (called the evaporator).

This heat causes the refrigerant to evaporate. In the evaporator, the low-pressure low-temperature refrigerant can absorb heat even in very cold conditions (as low as -20 o C).

2. Compressor

The evaporated refrigerant is compressed, thereby increasing the temperature.

3. Condenser

The refrigerant gas transfers heat to the central heating system. This causes the refrigerant to condense back to liquid. This happens in the condenser. In the second heat exchanger, the cooler water from the central heating system absorbs heat. This heat is then either circulated around a transmitter system (radiator or floor heating system) or used to heat water.

4. Expansion valve

The cooled refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, thereby reducing the pressure. This further reduces the temperature before the refrigerant returns to the evaporator, so the cycle can start again.

The working principle here uses the concept of "latent heat of condensation and vaporization". In short, by changing the pressure, we can control the boiling point of the liquid medium and subsequently control the movement of heat.

Types of air source heat pumps:

There are two main types of air source heat pumps (ASHP): air to water and air to air.

Air to water heat pump. These heat pumps absorb heat from the outside air, and then provide hot water or heating to the home through a floor heating system or shower.

Air-to-air heat pump. These heat pumps absorb heat from outside air and then input the heat into your home through fans. This type of system cannot produce hot water.

Air source heat pumps have many advantages in terms of environment and economy:

1. Air source heat pumps do require electricity to function, but they generate more energy than they consume. In fact, the efficiency of electric heat pumps usually exceeds a ratio of 3:1. In other words, for every kilowatt of electricity used by the system, three kilowatts are generated.

2. The installation cost of air source heat pumps is also cheaper than ground source heat pumps, and if installed correctly, they can reduce the energy cost of your house by as much as 40%. Houses and buildings with good thermal insulation are more suitable for the use of air source heat pumps.

3. In addition to saving energy costs, air source heat pumps also have a lower carbon footprint, so they are more environmentally friendly than combustible heating systems.

If you are interested in purchasing a new system, or you still want to know the working principle of the air source heat pump, please contact Leomon Technology. For more information, please contact us immediately.