What’s a Heat Pump?

June 8th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

To some of you, there may be nothing new here for you, but I hope and think this will be an interesting, informational post for most. Via sister site sustainablog, here’s a good post on what a heat pump is:

What is a Heat Pump? (via sustainablog)

Heat pumps provide efficient, reliable methods of heating homes and buildings. Because they use much lower amounts of fossil fuels, they also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions. A heat pump draws heat from the ground, or from outdoor air, and transports it to another…

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Tags: heat pump, heat pumps, quickies

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Breath on the Wind

his is a vast subject with a number of ways to approach it. You could go from theory to practice: ie: latent heat > Organic Rankine Cycle > condenser types > distribution types with some mention of how heat pumps differ from straight air conditioners. You could organize in terms of equipment and review some of the technology or you might consider economics in a kind of cost / benefit analysis. With a subject that fills books deciding what to put in an article requires some choices.

This article represents a brave attempt at too broad a subject. Some confusion is easily the result. Only a closed surface loop is described (which could also be open or closed in a pond or year round river,)open and closed ground loops in two or more wells were not discussed but are more common without large available land areas. Here a disadvantage of geothermal, having to install boreholes (wells) is mentioned when it is not previously listed.

There is no mention here about the essential difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner or other types of geothermal applications. For the heat pump cycles are reversible to give heat or air conditioning from the same system. While conventional heat pumps can use lower amounts of fossil fuels if electricity comes conventional sources. If the power is from solar or wind the usage will not involve fossil fuels. Also by using principles of refrigeration it is possible to heat and cool using thermal solar panels and entirely avoid electricity (or compressors.) (principles similar to gas refrigerators.) The outside units may be placed on a roof or a pad on the ground depending upon place and local laws. While COP is a scientific measure of efficiency the same Wiki article referenced here makes clear that this is rarely seen in the US. Instead SEER ratings are the norm. Heat pumps are an interesting subject with lots of potential. Related technology is even used to produce electricity.

Some of these aspects I have mentioned in previous CT articles some are planned for future articles.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Thomas-Cheney/716830405 Thomas Cheney

Heat pumps when they apply electric resistance heat for peaking can create load spikes for utilities. They are a good renewable baseload heat source. Looking at transcritical heat pumps (CO2-based) called the Ecocute might be of interest. They are made in Japan and are primarily used for hot water heating, being capable of heating a 10 degree air to 90 Degree Celsius water.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PKBLDBYWRPMI7N3DTPQIZJJQTM Nuclear

Nice to read this. Apart from this, people can also use other natural methods of heating.

Open the blinds and this will heat the room thru glass when its sunny.

For drying clothes, they can just place it in hanger instead of using dryer as long as its not urgent.

Food can be kept outside the fridge for an hour or 2 before eating and this will bring down its temperature and also will thaw and come to room temperature before keeping it in microwave oven.
Wahlink

Isn’t this just another form of geothermal? Geothermals, as I understand, come in vertical or horizontal flavors just like described here. They also pump and distribute cool or warm heat right? Am I missing something here?
- Amber Brixwell
  
  You are right. It is a heat pump. So is an air conditioner and a refrigerator.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Thomas-Cheney/716830405 Thomas Cheney
  
  Heat pumps can be geothermal but in warm climates such as US south heat pumps collect energy from the air. They are called air source heat pumps. Geothermal systems are much more expensive but also significantly more efficient, particularly in colder areas.
  - Bob_Wallace
    
    It’s more efficient to move heat from one area to another if there the “contributing” area is warmer than the “receiving” area.
    
    Pulling heat out of 30 to 40 degree air is harder work than pulling heat out of 55 degree “ground heated” water.
    
    Geothermal also works for air conditioning. Pushing heat from a 75 degree room into 55 degree “ground cooled” water is easier than into 90 degree air.
    
    I would imagine that if you lived where it was very hot for much of the year a geothermal AC would make as much sense as a geothermal heater in cold climates. Where geothermal heat pumps should really shine are places which have hot summers and cold winters.