Heat Pump Technology Explained In Less Than 140 Characters The Advantages of Heat Pump Technology

When running on pure electricity, a heat pump system can slash household carbon emissions from heating by 75 percent, when compared to a gas heater.

Zhibin Yu was able to get some serious work completed during the Covid-19 lockdown. He spent his time developing a heat pump for colder climates.

What is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is an electric HVAC system that can provide heating and cooling. It is the same system similar to that of your air conditioner and refrigerator by vaporizing liquid refrigerant, which absorbs heat from its surroundings and the air around it. The heat is then transferred inside through a series metal coils and a fan. Heat pumps use much less energy than boilers, furnaces or electric radiators to generate heat since they draw their thermal energy from air and the ground, rather than creating it by combustion or electrical resistance.

A heat pump functions as an air conditioner in cooling mode, absorbing ambient heat from the outdoor air even when it is cold and transferring it into. But it also functions as a heater during winter months, when it is reversed by a reversing valve that alters the flow of refrigerant changing it back to its liquid state before evaporates it. The heat is then dragged inside through a fan, and the copper tubes of the indoor unit.

They are more energy efficient than furnaces and boilers as they produce up to three times the heat. They can be used to heat your entire home or a single space like an attic or garage.

A variety of innovations are making heat pumps more efficient. Variable speed compressors are among the most efficient and quiet options. Scroll compressors are more efficient and quieter than conventional compressors. Other efficiency-boosting features are a desuperheater, which heats water by using the waste refrigerant. Zone control systems can also provide heating for specific rooms in the house.

The fact that heat pumps can be powered by renewable energy sources is their biggest innovation. They have less environmental impact because they do not burn fossil fuels. They are increasingly making use of low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants which are more beneficial to the environment than R-410A and other hydrocarbons.

How does a heatpump work?

A heat pump extracts heat1 from the air, ground, geothermal energy, or other sources and delivers it to your home, supplying both heating and cooling. It consumes less energy than conventional gas or electric systems, which makes it a green option. It also requires less maintenance than conventional systems.


The technology behind the heat pump is similar to that of an air conditioner. The system consists of two main parts including an outdoor unit which is similar to the outside unit of a split air conditioning system and an indoor unit with the coil that can be used as an condenser or evaporator. The system also includes an air blower that is blown over the coil to aid in heat exchange. The refrigerant contained in the coil is liquid at temperatures of room temperature. However as it warms up in the home the liquid evaporates and becomes gas. A reversing valve located near the compressor can alter the direction of the refrigerant's flow to switch between cooling and heating modes.

Since heat naturally moves to areas that have lower temperatures and less pressure, the vapor refrigerant in the coil absorbs heat from the air in your home. Then, it is moved to the outdoor unit, where the compressor increases temperature and pressure. The boiling point of liquid decreases and the liquid reverts to its liquid state.

When the liquid refrigerant exits the compressor, it passes through a second coil located in the outdoor unit. This coil is referred to as an evaporator when the heat pump is heating and a condenser if it is cooling. The outdoor coil draws heat from the air using aluminum fins that assist in transferring that heat to the evaporator.

The evaporator inside the indoor heat pump is a fan that blows air over the copper or aluminum coils that have grooved surfaces to increase surface area and aid heat transfer. The fan keeps a comfortable air velocity to reduce noise and drafts. Certain models come with a desuperheater which recovers the wasted heat from the evaporator when it is in cooling mode and utilizes it to efficiently heat water inside your home.

What are the benefits of the use of a heat pump?

In terms of saving energy and reducing your environmental impact, there's no HVAC system more eco-friendly than the heat pump. This climate-friendly technology is getting more popular as local and state governments continue to offer rebates and incentives for homeowners who choose to switch. The Department of Energy is touting the advantages of these systems over traditional heating systems.

The heat pumps, unlike gas furnaces use metal coils to move heat energy out of air. As they do not use fuel, unlike combustion heaters, they produce no emissions or other pollutants. They also do not require chimneys to let exhaust fumes go from the home. They are also extremely quiet. They operate at a fraction the noise level of gas furnaces.

A new study by UC Davis found that a heat pump running on clean electricity (generated from wind, solar or other renewable sources) could reduce household carbon dioxide emissions by up to 75 percent. The study however focused on houses with superior insulation and a modern heat pump, not all homes.

The good news is that the majority of existing homes are eligible for a heat pump upgrade. If you're interested in changing your heating system we recommend you consult with your local cooperative or public power district. They can help you find contractors, financing, and other details about this exciting new technology.

The climate in which you live will determine which model is the best for your home. You'll have to look for the ENERGY the STAR or an energy performance chart that has an HSPF and SEER rating. In warmer climates, you should concentrate on SEER, and in colder climates you should be looking at HSPF.

They are not just green, but they also offer a variety of other advantages. Since they don't burn fuel they require less maintenance than a furnace that is based on combustion. Furthermore, there's heat pump tumble dryers of carbon monoxide leaks, fires or explosion. Heating systems can also improve indoor air by increasing the humidity in winter and decreasing it in summer.

Heat pumps don't produce combustion byproducts and so do not add combustible gas to the air. This makes them an ideal choice for homes with vulnerable residents.

What are the disadvantages to heating pump systems?

Like every piece of modern technology heat pumps have advantages and drawbacks. The main ones are their energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The heat pumps unlike furnaces, which burn fossil fuels to produce heat, make use of renewable energy sources to transfer thermal energy out of the air or the ground to your home. They are also more efficient than traditional heating systems and can help you save money on electric bills.

The majority of heat pumps are more expensive to purchase than furnaces however they will pay for themselves over time with lower operating costs. They can be noisy, however new designs are minimizing this issue. They are most effective in homes with excellent insulation and hermetic seals. They also work best in moderate climates.

In the summer months, they function similarly to an air cooling system. They draw heat from the air inside your home and then exhaust it outside using a small amount of drive energy. In winter, they operate in reverse, absorbing thermal energy from the outside air and pumping it indoors.

This is made possible by an inverse valving that permits the refrigerant to move in either direction. The thermal energy they transport can be derived from a variety of sources, including geothermal energy stored in the ground as well as ambient temperatures of the air solar energy, or waste heat from industrial processes.

Since they use significant amounts of electricity (or none in the case of wall heaters), heat pumps are typically subject to 'time of use' pricing. This can result in higher costs and make them less efficient as furnaces in colder climates.

The refrigerants that are used in heat pump systems could be released into the air and cause pollution. Although manufacturers are working on safer alternatives, they still are a risk and should be used only when it is necessary. In general, though, it is widely agreed that heat pumps are a greener alternative to traditional heating technologies and, if properly installed they can cut down your carbon footprint significantly. Heat pumps are a great way to experience "green" living, without the need to purchase an expensive HVAC system.