What is an Air Source Heat Pump and How Does it Work?
The science of cooling relies on the process of air source heat, which is the movement of heat from one media to another. The process can go either way; from a hot to a cold place or vice versa. A refrigerant system is the main component of the engine as it compresses and condenses air between the two sides to form the cooling and condensing effects.
How the Air Source Heat Pump Works
The working mechanism of the systems is different among equipment due to the nature of the output needed. The system has coils onto which the air passes through. Its flow is controlled by valves onto which different temperatures are passed through.
There is energy in the air at any temperature above zero degrees. It is the work of the air source heat pump to move this energy from one medium to another. These media may be rooms separated with a wall with different temperature needs. Refrigerators and air conditioning units use this technology to work. It has two components; an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger releases heat through air ducts while the outdoor exchanger gets heat from the surrounding air.
When the temperatures and pressure in the liquid refrigerant are low, the air passes through the hot exchange coils in the system. This turns it into a gaseous state. Thereafter, it is compressed by a pump which increases its temperature. On the other medium, the gas goes through the heat exchange coils where it is condensed into a liquid. The latent heat kept in the indoor air is then pumped across the heat exchanger. The refrigerant allows the cool liquid to pass through the heat exchanger to begin the process once again.
Uses of the Air Source Heat Pump
The heat gathered from the air can be used to heat systems, radiators or convectors. In refrigerators, for example, the heat inside the freezer is extracted to leave it cooler. They might need the power to run, but the heat being extracted is naturally restored. The same analogy is used in air conditioning systems in houses and offices.
The efficiency of such a system is dependent on the air source heat pump installer. The EOC services are known in the United Kingdom for their professional services in acquisition, installation and maintenance of any air source heat pump system.
The Advantages of Using Air Source Heat Pumps
- Carbon emission into the atmosphere is reduced if you are using electricity to power the system.
- It is two-sided; it can cool one side of the medium as the heat extracted is used to heat something else.
- The system is self-checking and requires minimum maintenance.
- The heat consumed during extraction is lesser than the one produced. When using the system, power bills will be considerably lower.