Heat Pumps- The Multipurpose Pumps

Heat pumps can heat your house at much lower cost than the central air conditioners and are quickly replacing them. Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient heating and cooling systems suitable for all types of climate. Though the initial installation costs of these pumps are considerably higher than  air-source models, they provide a good payback on the investment, specially in very cold or hot climates.

 

If you live in a warm climate, pumping equipments like air-source heat pumps can prove to be an efficient heating and cooling system for your home. These pumps have the capacity to give one-and-a-half to three times more heat energy to a home than its consumption of electrical energy. It is only possible because heat pumps move heat instead of converting it from a fuel, like in combustion heating systems.

 

Air-source heat pumps can be used in most parts of the world, however they usually don't perform well over extended periods of time in sub-freezing temperatures. In regions having sub-freezing winter temperatures, a standard air source heat pump may not be cost effective to fulfill all your heating requirements.

 

To overcome this problem new systems with gas heating as backup are coming up. Systems like "Cold Climate Heat Pump" have shown promise but is facing manufacturing problems. Apart from these, a version called the "Reverse Cycle Chiller" has been able to operate efficiently at below-freezing temperatures.

 

Air-source heat pumps are basically a central air conditioner having a few extra equipments & parts. In summer it draws heat from the indoor air and expels the heat outdoors through a refrigeration cycle similar to an air conditioner. The cooling efficiency is rated by its SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). In winters, a reversing valve inside the outdoor condenser unit switches position. The flow of the refrigerant is reversed so it begins to draw heat from the outdoor air and transfers it to an indoor coil. Heating efficiency is rated by HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor).

 

Recently a number of developments have happened in air-source heat pumps. The new modulating, multistage-output rotary compressor produces very high efficiencies for both heating and cooling (HSPF, 10; SEER, 22).

 

It uses a rotary compressor with inverter technology that permits it to vary its heating or cooling output from about one-third to full capacity output. Not only it produces good comfort, quiet operation and even room temperatures, but saves electricity too. Two-stage heat pumps have also been able to improve efficiency and comfort over standard single-stage models.

 

There is another new heat pump designed for colder climates. In this pump a second booster compressor is used to continue heat production efficiently at lower outdoor temperatures. It offers four heating and two cooling stages. For increasing the efficiency and comfort of non-booster heat pumps, they can be coupled with high-efficiency gas furnaces for a hybrid system in cold climates.