What is a Heat Pump?
We can call heat pump any engineered device which is designed to move the thermal energy from a place to another. To achieve this, thermodynamics and refrigeration principles are mostly used. Practically, we can cool down or heat anything using a fraction of electricity just as an input to keep a refrigerant compressor pumping.
Cooling or Heating are the main benefits of all heat pump systems. The shape & form of a heat pump depends on the application it was meant to function on.
For example:
1
To preserve food, drinks or other things we need fridges and freezers. Everyone knows how they look but just a few know that it is actually a heat pump device hidden inside the box. This heat pump is specialised in extracting the heat from that insulated enclosure to a certain temperature usually much lower than the surroundings.
2
We all know what air conditioning systems are. They are refrigeration instruments designed to bring the outdoor temperature inside our homes (warming us in winter) or to remove the heat excess during hot summer via air-air or air-water. Hot cars are not enjoyable in scorched summer without the work of a heat pump system which can easily balance and control the interior climate.
3
Heat pumps can be used to transfer heat from the atmosphere (air) into water. We can heat water up to 30-38 Celsius on swimming & spa or even to 60-70 Celsius when we talk about hot water.
4
Heat Pumps can be also used to chill down the water by releasing its heat into the atmosphere. Large air conditioning units use chillers for this purpose.
Depending on the goal of their use, heat pumps are named differently. Whatever we say: fridge, freezer, water cooler, hot water system, swimming pool water heater, chiller or air conditioning we mean similar systems with the same work principles.
Why Heat Pump?
When we talk about heating either hot water or a whole room the heat pump system is by far the most reliable option.
Heating water for domestic or commercial purpose has proven to be the best renewable alternative to solar, gas or other electrical system. And while solar is still a very efficient way to heat water here in Queensland the heat pump water heaters are the most practical solutions, saving almost as much energy and greenhouse carbon emissions.
