WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? Technically, a  is a mechanical-compression cycle refrigeration system that can be reversed to either heat or cool aInstallation for this type of system typically consists of two parts: an indoor unit called an air handler and an outdoor unit similar to a central air conditioner, but referred to asA compressor circulates refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it travels between the indoor and outdoor units. HOW DOES A HEAT PUMP WORK? Think of a heat pump as a heat transporter constantly moving warm air from one place to another, to where its needed or not needed, depending on the season. Even in air that's seems too cold, heatWhen it's cold outside a heat pump extracts this outside heat and transfers it inside. When it’s warm outside, it reverses directions and acts like an air conditioner, removing heat One advantage of a heat pump is that it moves heat instead of generating heat, giving you more energy efficiency.

powered by electricity, so you can save substantially on fuelFor example, a Trane  heat pump is among the HVAC industry’s most efficient, with a rating up to 19.00  and 9.00 . Note that heat pumps are best for moderate climates, and a supplemental heating source may be needed for lower temperatures. year-round solution for home comfort, Trane heat pumps can become a key part of your matched system. An independent Trane dealer can helpcentral ac unit filter location you decide if a heat pump system is right for you.used air conditioning units floridaPart of the Data center management glossary:ac and heating units reviews A heat pump is a device that takes heat from one source and moves it to

another location through electric or mechanical means. Heat pumps may be used either to heat or Heat pump technologies include phase change, thermoelectrics, thermoacoustic and magnetic coolers. HVAC and other phase change cooling methods are mechanical in nature. Phase change works by using a volatile gas (a refrigerant) that is mechanically compressed to a liquid with low energy and then pumped through aThe refrigerant is evaporated on a heat source, absorbing heat. It then moves along to radiate heat out of the system in another area and then back to the compressor. Phase change cooling is used in refrigerators and building heating and cooling, as well as extreme cooling of electronics. Due to their relatively high efficiency, HVAC heat pumps are often used for larger loads like data centers and industrial uses where their large size is not problematic. Thermoelectric coolers are electrical heat pumps. A thermoelectric cooling system typically

employs a matrix of semiconductor pellets sandwiched in between two large electrodes. voltage source is connected between the electrodes, the negatively-charged side becomes cooler, while the positively-charged side becomes hotter than the input temperature. The negative side is placed in contact with the component, device or medium to be cooled, while the positive side is connected to a cooling component, such as a heatsink, that radiates or dissipates thermal energy into the external environment. Thermo electrics can be found in compact sizes for cooling microelectronics and a number of scientific applications. Thermoacoustic heat pumps use the conversion of heat into acoustic vibrations. behind thermoacoustics is the movement of heat along with the propagation of the waves. Thermoacoustic cooling is used in cryogenics. Magnetic heat pumps use the ability of a set of magnets to move heat from a cooling side to aThe heat is transferred into a ferromagnetic alloy which is moved from the cooling

area to an external environment into which the heat radiates. This is a more experimental field but it is estimated that magnetic heat pumps could improve refrigerating efficiency as much as 40 You are here » » Heat Pump SystemsDefinition: Ground Source Heat Pumps Jump to: navigation, search A Ground Source Heat Pump is a central building heating and/or cooling system that takes advantage of the relatively constant year-round ground temperature to pump heat to or from the ground. A geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a central heating and/or cooling system that transfers heat to or from the ground.It uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). This design takes advantage of the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce the operational costs of heating and cooling systems, and may be combined with solar heating to form a geosolar system with even greater efficiency. Ground source heat pumps are also known as "geothermal heat pumps" although, strictly, the heat does not come primarily from the centre of the Earth, but from the Sun.

They are also known by other names, including geoexchange, earth-coupled, earth energy systems. The engineering and scientific communities prefer the terms "geoexchange" or "ground source heat pumps" to avoid confusion with traditional geothermal power, which uses a high temperature heat source to generate electricity. Ground source heat pumps harvest heat absorbed at the Earth's surface from solar energy. The temperature in the ground below 6 metres (20 ft) is roughly equal to the mean annual air temperature at that latitude at the surface.Depending on latitude, the temperature beneath the upper 6 metres (20 ft) of Earth's surface maintains a nearly constant temperature between 10 and 16 °C (50 and 60 °F), if the temperature is undisturbed by the presence of a heat pump. Like a refrigerator or air conditioner, these systems use a heat pump to force the transfer of heat from the ground. Heat pumps can transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, against the natural direction of flow, or they can enhance the natural flow of heat from a warm area to a cool one.

The core of the heat pump is a loop of refrigerant pumped through a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle that moves heat. Air-source heat pumps are typically more efficient at heating than pure electric heaters, even when extracting heat from cold winter air, although efficiencies begin dropping significantly as outside air temperatures drop below 5 °C (41 °F). A ground source heat pump exchanges heat with the ground. This is much more energy-efficient because underground temperatures are more stable than air temperatures through the year. Seasonal variations drop off with depth and disappear below 7 metres (23 ft) to 12 metres (39 ft) due to thermal inertia. Like a cave, the shallow ground temperature is warmer than the air above during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. A ground source heat pump extracts ground heat in the winter (for heating) and transfers heat back into the ground in the summer (for cooling). Some systems are designed to operate in one mode only, heating or cooling, depending on climate.

Geothermal pump systems reach fairly high Coefficient of performance (CoP), 3 to 6, on the coldest of winter nights, compared to 1.75-2.5 for air-source heat pumps on cool days. Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are among the most energy efficient technologies for providing HVAC and water heating.Setup costs are higher than for conventional systems, but the difference is usually returned in energy savings in 3 to 10 years, and even shorter lengths of time with federal, state and utility tax credits and incentives. Geothermal heat pump systems are reasonably warranted by manufacturers, and their working life is estimated at 25 years for inside components and 50+ years for the ground loop. As of 2004, there are over a million units installed worldwide providing 12 GW of thermal capacity, with an annual growth rate of 10%., A geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump (GSHP) is a central heating and/or cooling system that transfers heat to or from the ground.Geothermal pump systems reach fairly high coefficient of performance (CoP), 3 to 6, on the coldest of winter nights, compared to 1.75–2.5 for air-source heat pumps on cool days.