How a Heat Pump Works

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How a Heat Pump Works

• By Adam Meeker

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What is a Heat Pump?

• A heat pump is a device which transfers heat
  energy from one place to another.

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Major Components

• Indoor coil
• Outdoor coil
• Compressor
• Fan
• Expansion Device

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How It Works

• Liquid refrigerant is pumped through outdoor
  coil, picking up heat
• Vapor travels through compressor and is further
  heated (high pressure)
• Vapor continues to indoor coil where it expels
  heat, absorbs cool air, and condenses back to
  liquid
• Fans blow heat through ducts to heat house
• Cooled vapor passes through the expansion device
  where pressure is reduced, cooled and converted
  back to liquid refrigerant
• Other methods such as water or ground source heat
  can be used.

5
Efficiency

• Very efficient in use of energy
• Takes less electrical energy to move heat than
  convert electrical energy to heat
• Heat pumps generally magnify heat rather than
  just create it leading to high levels of
  efficiency
• Reduces heat costs by 30-50 compared to electric
  furnaces

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How It Works (Diagram)
http//www.ari.org/consumer/howdoesitwork/howHPwks
.html
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References

• http//home.howstuffworks.com/ac3.htm
• http//energyoutlet.com/res/heatpump/how.html
• http//www.heatpumpcentre.org/
• http//www.ari.org/consumer/howdoesitwork/howHPwks
  .html