heat pump

heat pump
a device that uses a compressible refrigerant to transfer heat from one body, as the ground, air, or water, to another body, as a building, with the process being reversible.
[1890-95]

* * *

Device for transferring heat from a substance or space at one temperature to another at a higher temperature.

It consists of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle or expansion valve, an evaporator, and a working fluid (refrigerant). The compressor delivers vapourized refrigerant to the condenser in the space to be heated. There, cooler air condenses the refrigerant and becomes heated during the process. The liquid refrigerant then enters the throttle valve and expands, coming out as a liquid-vapour mixture at a lower temperature and pressure. It then enters the evaporator, where the liquid is evaporated by contact with the warmer space. The vapour then passes to the compressor and the cycle is repeated. A heat pump is a reversible system and is commonly used both to heat and to cool buildings. It operates on the same thermodynamic principles as refrigeration.

* * *

      device for transferring heat from a substance or space at one temperature to another substance or space at a higher temperature. It consists of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle or expansion valve, an evaporator, and a working fluid (refrigerant), such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, or a halocarbon. The compressor delivers the vaporized refrigerant under high pressure and temperature to the condenser, located in the space to be heated. There, the cooler air condenses the refrigerant and becomes heated in the process. The liquid refrigerant then enters the throttle valve and, expanding, comes out as a liquid–vapour mixture at a lower temperature and pressure; it then enters the evaporator, where the liquid is evaporated by contact with a comparatively warmer space. The vapour then passes to the compressor, and the cycle is repeated.

      A heat pump can serve as a reversible system for heating and cooling buildings. See heating.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • heat pump — n. a device for cooling or warming an enclosed space by removing heat from interior air and transferring it out, or by absorbing heat from outdoor air, or from a hot water source, and transferring it in …   English World dictionary

  • heat pump — n part of a machine that takes heat from one place to another …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • heat pump — heat′ pump n. ene thr a device that uses a compressible refrigerant to transfer heat in a reversible process from one body, as the ground, air, or water, to another body, as a building • Etymology: 1890–95 …   From formal English to slang

  • Heat pump — A heat pump is a machine or device that moves heat from one location (the source ) to another location (the sink or heat sink ), using work. Most heat pump technology moves heat from a low temperature heat source to a higher temperature heat sink …   Wikipedia

  • Heat pump —   1) (air source)   An air source heat pump is the most common type of heat pump. The heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers the heat to the space to be heated in the heating mode. In the cooling mode the heat pump absorbs heat …   Energy terms

  • heat pump — noun apparatus that extracts heat from a liquid that is at a higher temperature than its surroundings; can be used to transfer heat from a reservoir outside in order to heat a building • Hypernyms: ↑apparatus, ↑setup * * * noun : a device for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • heat pump — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms heat pump : singular heat pump plural heat pumps a piece of equipment that carries heat from one place to another, for example in a fridge …   English dictionary

  • heat pump — šiluminis siurblys statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. heat pump vok. Wärmepumpe, f rus. тепловой насос, m pranc. pompe à chaleur, f …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • Heat pump and refrigeration cycle — Thermodynamic heat pump and refrigeration cycles are the models for heat pumps and refrigerators. The difference between a heat pump and a normal air conditioner is that a heat pump can be used to heat a home as well as cool it. Even though the… …   Wikipedia

  • Heat pump efficiency —   The efficiency of a heat pump, that is, the electrical energy to operate it, is directly related to temperatures between which it operates. Geothermal heat pumps are more efficient than conventional heat pumps or air conditioners that use the… …   Energy terms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”