Functions of heat pumps are quite tantamount to air conditioning systems—they can either heat up or cool down the air passing through it. As heat pumps merely emit heat from the air and redirect the energy, they are proven to be highly efficient as limited amount of energy is put to work. In the areas where the climate is moderate, a heat pump is proven to be a cost-saving alternative when compared to conventional and traditional furnaces for home. But, before arriving on a decision on what suits the best for your given space or application, you need to understand the types of heat pumps available in the market.
- Air-source heat pumps
It is also known as an air heat pump which transfers heat to extract exterior air into the heat pump. Once it is inside the pump, the cool air is transferred via coils with refrigerant where it sucks away the heat from the air and ejects vapour. Then, the vapour is channelled via a compressor where the pressure of the vapor and temperature is increased. The vapour and refrigerant are segregated, the latter is transformed into fluid and is taken back to the coils where it solicits more heat and the vapour is transferred into an air-duct system where it is dispersed into a designated space.
- Ground-source heat pumps
As the name suggest, air source pumps absorb heat from the air, ground-source heat pumps absorb heat from the ground with the help of underground coils. Refrigerant passes via these coils for extracting heat from the surrounding ground. Then it is recirculated frequently in a closed-loop system pattern, or it can be taken back to its natural source. When water is utilized rather than a refrigerant, a local lake can act as its rich source in a pattern of open loop system. In other words, ground source heat pumps operate as similar to air source heat pumps.
- Absorption heat pumps
They are also similar to air source heat pumps but they are not dependent on electricity in order to operate. So, rather than using the electrical sources gas, solar power or heat water is used. Moreover, refrigerant is not used in the process at all. To absorb the heat, an absorption pump is utilized by absorbing ammonia into water. Then, the concoction of water and ammonia is pressurized to generate the boiling process, then the ammonia is boiled away.
