Air source heat pump technology

1. Air source heat pump technology is based on the reverse Carnot cycle principle and is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating technology.

Air source heat pump systems utilize natural energy (air heat storage) to obtain a low-temperature heat source. After efficient heat collection, the system converts it into a high-temperature heat source for heating or hot water supply. The system has very high heat collection efficiency.

2. Heat pumps have four major advantages: First, energy saving, which is conducive to comprehensive energy utilization; second, environmental protection; third, the combination of heating and cooling, high equipment utilization rate, and reduced investment; fourth, electric drive, convenient control. Therefore, heat pumps have attracted much attention.

3. Heat pump technology is a 21st-century energy technology that can improve energy utilization efficiency through heat pumps. Energy utilization efficiency has two meanings: From an environmental perspective, it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce environmental harm; on the other hand, it is also a technology to solve peak power load.

4. Heat pumps utilize the reverse Carnot principle, using minimal electricity to absorb a large amount of low-temperature heat energy from the air. After compression by the compressor, it is converted into high-temperature heat energy and transferred to the water tank to heat the water. Therefore, it has low energy consumption, high efficiency, fast speed, good safety, and strong environmental protection, and can continuously supply hot water. As a hot water system, it has unparalleled advantages. However, the main disadvantage of air source heat pumps is that the heating capacity and heating performance coefficient decrease as the outdoor temperature decreases, so their use is limited by the ambient temperature, generally suitable for areas with a minimum temperature above -10℃. Combining heat pump technology with solar energy, the air source heat pump will be an ideal auxiliary heating device.

5. Heat pump water heaters follow the law of conservation of energy and the second law of thermodynamics. Using the heat pump principle, only a small amount of mechanical work (electricity) is needed to transfer heat from a low-temperature environment (atmosphere or pipeline, etc.) to a hot water heater in a high-temperature environment to heat and produce high-temperature hot water. Heat pumps can be compared to water pumps; water cannot spontaneously flow from a low place to a high place and requires a water pump to transport it; similarly, according to the second law of thermodynamics, heat cannot spontaneously transfer from a low-temperature environment to a high-temperature environment, and a machine needs to consume some mechanical work (such as electricity) to transfer the heat from the low-temperature environment to the high-temperature environment. Such a machine is called a "heat pump." The function of a heat pump is to transfer the heat in the air or low-temperature water, as well as the heat generated by the initially used electricity, to the high-temperature environment for application.

A complete air energy heat pump contains two main parts:

But in reality, these two parts are closely related and inseparable and must work simultaneously. That is, while heating the hot water, it cools the kitchen; or, while cooling the kitchen, it also heats the hot water.

Its internal structure is mainly composed of four core components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator.

Its working process is as follows: The compressor compresses the returning low-pressure refrigerant, turning it into high-temperature and high-pressure gas that is discharged; the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas flows through the copper pipe wrapped around the outside of the water tank and is delivered to the inside of the water tank. After cooling, the refrigerant becomes liquid under continuous pressure; after passing through the expansion valve, it enters the evaporator. Because the pressure in the evaporator suddenly drops, the liquid refrigerant quickly evaporates into a gaseous state and absorbs a large amount of heat. At the same time, under the action of the fan, a large amount of air flows over the outer surface of the evaporator, and the energy in the air is absorbed by the evaporator, and the air temperature rapidly decreases, turning into cold air discharged into the kitchen. Then, the refrigerant, which has absorbed a certain amount of energy, flows back to the compressor and enters the next cycle.

From the above working principle, it can be seen that the working principle of the air energy heat pump is somewhat similar to that of an air conditioner. It applies the reverse Carnot principle, absorbing a large amount of low-temperature heat energy from the air, converting it into high-temperature heat energy through the compressor's compression, and transferring it to the water tank to heat the water. The whole process is an energy transfer process (from air to water), not an energy conversion process. It does not heat water through electric heating elements or by burning combustible gas.

Whether it is an air conditioner or a heat pump, it actually follows the basic principle of conservation of energy: the process of energy (cold and heat) exchange. Refrigeration is the exchange of heat from indoors to outdoors. If it is an air-cooled machine, it is exchanged into the atmosphere; most air conditioners work this way, leading to a local temperature increase. The air energy heat pump transfers the released energy to the water tank to exchange heat. Heating is the reverse. Refrigerant cycle: gaseous → liquid → gaseous. The process of gaseous refrigerant becoming liquid under compressor pressure generates heat, which is transferred to the water tank; after the liquid refrigerant cools, it flows indoors to exchange heat with the indoor air through the exchange pipe, turning into cold air, and then turning back into gaseous refrigerant.