Air Source Heat Pump

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a type of heat pump that can absorb heat from outside a structure and release it inside using the same vapor-compression refrigeration process and much the same equipment as air conditioners but used in the opposite direction.

Unlike an air conditioning unit, most ASHPs are reversible and are able to either warm or cool buildings and in some cases also provide domestic hot water.

ASHPs are used to provide interior space heating and cooling even in colder climates, and can be used efficiently for water heating in milder climates.

A major advantage of some ASHPs is that the same system may be used for heating in winter and cooling in summer.

Though the cost of installation is generally high, it is less than the cost of a ground source heat pump, because a ground source heat pump requires excavation to install its ground loop.

How Air Source Heat Pumps Work:

An air source heat pump works by transferring heat from one place to another.

In the winter, the heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and transfers it inside the home.

In the summer, the heat pump absorbs heat from inside the home and transfers it outside.

The heat pump uses a refrigerant to transfer the heat. The refrigerant is a special gas that can change from a liquid to a gas and back again.

When the refrigerant is a liquid, it absorbs heat. When the refrigerant is a gas, it releases heat.

The heat pump has three main parts:

• An evaporator coil, which is located inside the home.
• A condenser coil, which is located outside the home.
• A compressor, which is located between the evaporator and condenser coils.The evaporator coil is where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the inside air. The condenser coil is where the refrigerant releases heat to the outside air. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, which increases its temperature and pressure. This allows the refrigerant to release more heat when it reaches the condenser coil.

Air Source Heat Pump Efficiency

The efficiency of an air source heat pump is measured by its coefficient of performance (COP). The COP is the ratio of the amount of heat that the heat pump can deliver to the amount of energy that it uses.

The COP of an air source heat pump varies depending on the outside temperature. In the winter, the COP is typically lower than in the summer.

This is because it is more difficult for the heat pump to absorb heat from the outside air when the outside temperature is cold.

The COP of an air source heat pump can also be affected by the size of the heat pump and the insulation of the home.

A larger heat pump will be more efficient than a smaller heat pump. A home with good insulation will be more efficient than a home with poor insulation.

Air Source Heat Pump Benefits:

Air source heat pumps offer a number of benefits, including:
  1. They can provide both heating and cooling.
  2. They can be used to provide domestic hot water.
  3. They are more efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems.
  4. They can help to reduce energy bills.
  5. They are environmentally friendly.
  6. Air Source Heat Pump Drawbacks