How A Heat Pump Works - By: John Mahoney

One alternative to conventional heating is a heat pump. Heat pumps are both environmentally friendly and cost efficient to operate. They operate by taking heat from other natural sources like the earth, water, and air. This works towards keeping the cost down because these resources are, for the most part, free and readily available. When a heat pump acquires these resources, they are at a relatively low temperature. The basic concept of the heat pump is that it raises the temperature of the resources and then releases it to some sort of transfer system.

The energy consumed by the heat pump will average about 60% less than other forms of heating over a period of five years versus that of other, more conventional, types of heating systems. One downfall to a heat pump is that it costs more to install it initially. This cost is offset, though, by the amount of money and energy it will save over time. The actual savings probably will not be realized until at least the third year it is in operation. One way that it saves money is in heat generation. For example, the heat pump is able to generate four times the amount of heat energy that it consumes. This type of heat system is very popular already in Sweden. At last count, there were more than 30,000 heat pumps installed in Swedish homes.

The working fluids that heat pumps use have boiling points that are lower than the temperature of the heat source. The working fluids are also a method of transporting the heat from one place to another. A heat exchanger takes the heat from the fluid. As the heat is extracted the temperature rises and the fluid evaporates. The gas created is then compressed. Raising the pressure on the gas also raises the temperature of the vapor.

The vapor is then passed back through the heat exchanger where the heat is rerouted to a ventilation system and the vapor is moved back through an expansion valve. Once through the expansion valve, the temperature will be low enough for the vapor to condense and the fluid to return to a liquid state. The fluid is then returned to the evaporator and the whole process is repeated.

About the Author

John Mahoney is an expert on reviewing renewable energy equipments and technology. Follow these links to find best gadgets and information on: Heat Pumps and energy consumption

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