Heat pumps are an increasingly popular heating and cooling solution for homes and buildings worldwide. Known for their efficiency and environmental friendliness, heat pumps offer a viable alternative to traditional heating systems like furnaces or electric heaters. So, property owners should understand how a heat pump works in winter.
In winter, a heat pump works in four basic steps. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the cold outside air by changing phase from liquid to gas in evaporation. Further pressure is received during compression, which increases its temperature. Then, it loses the collected heat indoors and changes from gas to liquid by reverting to the liquid form while warming the air inside. Finally, in expansion, it cools itself before another cycle of absorption.
A heat pump operates on the principle of heat exchange rather than producing heat through the combustion or electric resistance effect. They can use the available warmth in the air, water, or ground to heat up or cool down a room.
The heat pump cycle begins with evaporation. In this stage, the refrigerant in the outdoor coil of the heat pump is exposed to the cold air outside.
Some heat energy is still in the air even when temperatures are below freezing. Because the refrigerant used in heat pumps has a very low boiling point, it can absorb this available heat and convert it from a liquid to a gas.
It all comes down to the properties of refrigerants, which are specially formulated to boil and evaporate at temperatures lower than typical outdoor winter conditions. As the refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air, it transitions into a gaseous state, storing the absorbed heat energy.
When the refrigerant has conducted heat, it becomes flash-gas. Then, it goes to the compressor unit section of the unit. At this stage, the gas is compressed through compression.
When these refrigerant gasses are compressed, they also increase temperature and pressure. This makes it warm to the required levels of comfort and usability of indoor heating systems. The compressor heats the refrigerant higher than the air within the home, which is vital for heat exchange.
The refrigerant is now warmer, and is directed into the heat pump's indoor coil, which undergoes condensation.
During this phase, the refrigerant releases the heat energy it's carrying into the surrounding indoor air. This heat release warms the air inside the home, creating a comfortable living environment.
As the refrigerant transfers heat to the indoor space, it cools down and condenses into a liquid. This transition from gas to liquid happens as it gives up the heat initially absorbed outside. The heat pump's blower or fan then helps circulate this warmed air throughout the living space, maintaining a consistent temperature indoors.
After releasing its heat indoors, the refrigerant must prepare for another cycle of absorbing heat outdoors. It passes through an expansion valve on its way back to the outdoor coil to achieve this.
In the expansion stage, the refrigerant is depressurized, causing its temperature to drop substantially. This cooling allows the refrigerant to absorb more heat from the outdoor environment.
Once the refrigerant has cooled down and returned to a low-pressure liquid state, it is ready to repeat the cycle. This continuous process of absorbing, compressing, releasing, and expanding keeps the heat pump running efficiently, transferring heat from the outdoors to the indoors.
The heat pump works in the following steps:
Here are the main components of a heat pump:
The average lifespan of a heat pump is between 15 to 20 years. Also, factors affecting the lifespan include:
A heat pump operates in winter by reversing its process from cooling to heating. A heat pump is always in a cycle of four stages in winter. First, during evaporation, it absorbs the heat from the cold air and changes into a gas state. During compression, it is compressed and thereby becomes hot. Then there comes the condensation, which releases heat inside by again turning into a liquid. Finally, it has to go through the expansion process in which it cools itself up for another cycle of heat absorption. If you want to learn more about this process, contact experts like Superior Air Management.
