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How Does a Heat Pump Work?

EnergyTechnology

Quick Answer

A heat pump moves heat from a cooler space to a warmer one using a refrigeration cycle — compressing and expanding a refrigerant fluid to absorb heat outside and release it inside, achieving 300-500% efficiency because it moves heat rather than generating it.

The Full Story

A heat pump does not create heat; it moves existing heat from one place to another using the same thermodynamic cycle as a refrigerator, but in reverse. The cycle works in four steps: (1) a liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air (or ground/water) and evaporates into a gas in the outdoor heat exchanger; (2) a compressor pressurises the gas, raising its temperature significantly; (3) the hot, high-pressure gas releases its heat into the indoor space through the indoor heat exchanger, condensing back into a liquid; (4) an expansion valve drops the pressure, cooling the liquid back down, and the cycle repeats. Because the pump moves heat rather than generating it from fuel, it can deliver 3-5 units of heating energy for every 1 unit of electrical energy consumed — a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3-5, or 300-500% efficiency. Modern air-source heat pumps work effectively even at temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius.

Key Facts

1.Heat pumps can achieve 300-500% efficiency (COP 3-5), meaning they deliver 3-5 times more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume.
2.Global heat pump sales grew by 11% in 2022, with the EU leading adoption as part of its plan to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
3.Ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps are even more efficient than air-source because underground temperatures are relatively constant year-round (about 10-15 degrees Celsius).

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Heat Pumps Explained — How Moving Heat Beats Making It"