How Does A Heat Pump Work?

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How Does A Heat Pump Work?

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a system that transfers heat from outside to inside a building, or vice versa, to heat or cool it, depending on the season.

This versatile technology enhances comfort and offers an energy-efficient alternative to conventional heating and cooling systems.

The Basics of Heat Pump Technology

At its core, the heat pump operates on a principle similar to a refrigerator's. It uses a refrigerant to transfer heat, but instead of merely cooling, it can also provide heat. The system consists of two main components: an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, connected by pipes filled with refrigerant.

The Heating Cycle

During colder months, the heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air, even in freezing temperatures. Here's the step-by-step process:

Evaporation: The outdoor unit contains a coil that acts as an evaporator. The refrigerant within this coil absorbs heat from the external air, causing the refrigerant to evaporate and turn into a low-pressure gas.

Compression: This gas is then compressed by a compressor located in the outdoor unit. The compression process increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant gas significantly.

Condensation: The hot, high-pressure gas flows through to the indoor unit containing another coil. Here, the gas releases its heat, warming the air inside the home. As it loses heat, the refrigerant condenses back into a liquid.

Expansion: The high-pressure liquid refrigerant returns to the outdoor unit. It passes through an expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature, ready to absorb heat from the outdoor air again.

The Cooling Cycle

The heat pump can reverse the cycle to cool the building in warmer months. This process is known as the "reverse cycle":

Reverse Flow: By activating a reversing valve, the direction of the refrigerant flow changes, so the indoor coil becomes the evaporator and the outdoor coil becomes the condenser.

Indoor Evaporation: The refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air, cooling it. The absorbed heat turns the refrigerant from a liquid to a gas.

Heat Discharge: The compressor sends the refrigerant gas outside, releasing the absorbed heat into the atmosphere as it condenses into a liquid.

Pressure Reduction: The liquid refrigerant then returns indoors, passing through the expansion valve, decreasing pressure and temperature, ready to absorb heat from the indoor air again.

Benefits and Efficiency

Air-source heat pumps are praised for their energy efficiency. They consume less electricity than traditional heating systems that generate heat, as they simply move existing heat from one place to another. This efficiency can translate into lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact.

Moreover, modern heat pumps can operate effectively even in cold climates, making them a viable option for heating in various geographic locations. Their ability to reverse the cycle and provide cooling is an added benefit, making them an all-in-one climate control solution.

Air source heat pumps represent an intelligent technology that leverages the ambient air temperature to provide heating and cooling solutions. Efficient, versatile, and eco-friendly, they are an excellent choice for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining year-round comfort in their homes. Whether in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, a heat pump works tirelessly to ensure your environment is just right.

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Thanks to:

🔥 @HeatGeek

@VaillantUK

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#heatpump #heatgeeks #heating

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[Mlk]

That cylinder right there is a massive problem to most homes in the UK. Take a 3 bed semi that has been modernised over the years, old water tanks ripped out for better, smaller, combi boilers... Now we need to put hot water tanks BACK IN... where exactly? That space has been used to make rooms bigger, add down stairs loos etc. Now throw in terraced houses or flats...
Had comments on the last video of some people having this done, but I really want to SEE this done on smaller houses.

[tomplumb]

Nice simple video hope that helps push more HP’s.
Im now going for a HP at home, finally got the Steels up on the extension if you want to pop round and see what a HG is doing at their home Roger ?

[iaingray]

Insulation is the best investment to save on heating

[davideyres]

One of the best explanations that I have heard is to explain things in terms of Kelvins as a temperature measurement. When we think in terms of centigrade then we talk about zero being freezing and we think that’s cold and can’t be worked with. Everything in kelvins is upwards from absolute zero being zero.

[utubeape]

5:40 The guy says you can be paid to export to the grid. I thought this scheme had closed because they have enough people with solar panels now, and over supply in the summer.

Also, Would it not be more efficient to suck in the warmed air from the house which will be warmer than the outside and pump the cool air back outside after extracting heat?

Would it increase efficiency to build a metal 'chimney' duct and paint it black then have the fan input for the heat pump source there so that if there is any winter sun the air in the 'chimney' duct will be slightly warmed for free?

[edc]

Looking forward to the flat earthers telling me that it violates the conservation of energy :)

[maze]

My wife and I sat down together to view this explanation as it was obvious I just confused her when discussing ASHP. WE both thought it was great - not too dumb and not too technical. I’m prepared to pay money for a proper survey as the online ones can be misleading and I’ve only used as an indicator. Well done both 👍🏻

[davidbray]

What about winter when you want heat....how much difference in air in/out outside in - minus temperatures?

[prenticedarlington]

That was a good go at explaining the essence and practical side of air-water heat pumps. Not sure about necessarily getting a shorter payback with batteries, with the up front cost and complexity increases.

[jimgeelan]

I think they are taking you round to heat pumps Roger 😊

[alanhowemusic]

So looking at this installation what was the ball park figure cost of the total installation?

[FRZ]

Good to see you came over to the other side Roger. I'm starting my own self install of a Vaillant aroTHERM, using you guys as a reference!

[davedawson]

Adam has said to avoid fitting a balancing tank if possible. The only interested installer near me in North Wales insists they are essential. I won't get an eco4 grant and so most companies aren't interested. I need to know how these things work IN DETAIL. Because most installers don't it seems.

[davidjbatley]

You could also put a extra jumper on and save for a nice holiday as I've never lived in a house with central heating i don't know what all the fuss is about and stopped using the gas fire when the prices went up.

[affieuk]

There are things I like about Heat Geek and things I don't, the thing I don't when I got an automated quote for my house, it was about £7k after BUS grant and HG's guarantee was £2k, then I got another quote a week or two later, the price was the same £7k, but the HG guarantee dropped to £500, so all they did was increase the cost of other items to make it seem like there guarantee is cheap!

[frankmckie]

So is it best to have a heatpump on a south facing wall as apposed to a North facing wall?

[discopot]

I am nearly there to understanding. But how does it work in the winter when it’s 5c outside

[DrRobert]

There was no mention of the temperature of the water circulating around the rads and cylinder coil for the hot water

[Puffball-llly]

And the cost of the hardware, installation and maintenance is worth it? I don't think so. They used to say double glazing pays for itself after 20 years. Is heat pumps the new double glazing?

[lukemullet]

Why does the heat pump run in the summer?