Heat Pumps: Energy-Efficient Solutions for Heating
Today, various types of boilers are used for heating premises, such as gas, electric, and coal boilers. However, devices that provide heating by utilizing renewable energy are becoming increasingly popular. One such device is a heat pump.
The first prototype of a heat pump was created in 1855 by Austrian scientist Peter von Rittinger. Mass use of heat pumps began in the 1960s and 1970s.
Types of Heat Pumps
There are many types of heat pumps, which can be classified according to various criteria, particularly by their operating principle:
- Absorption
- Jet
- Thermoelectric
- Vapor-compression
For example, jet heat pumps are commonly used for recovering excess heat generated by industrial machines or equipment. Thermoelectric pumps are popular in automotive refrigerators, while domestic heat pumps operate based on vapor-compression systems.
Types of Heat Pump Compressors
Heat pumps are also classified by the type of compressor:
- Rotary - for small-capacity pumps, which increase operational time by reducing the number of rotations.
- Scroll - for medium capacity; they are noted for their reliability and quiet operation.
- Piston - for high-capacity systems.
- Scroll - for systems with increased capacity.
Some companies offer solutions for reducing costs in industrial enterprises, as well as monitoring the market for heat pump systems. One of the key factors in their development is the merging of companies that provide consumers with information on opportunities for energy resource savings, particularly through the use of already existing resources, such as waste products generated during production.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
The well-known energy crisis of 1973 contributed to the development of systems that minimize energy consumption from electrical networks. One such solution is a geothermal heat pump, which gained popularity due to its economic efficiency in the USA, Canada, and Sweden.
Types of Geothermal Pumps
Geothermal pumps can be divided into three main types:
- Open type - water is drawn into the installation from a water body and returned back.
- Closed type - the pump's circuit is located in a water body, where it absorbs heat and transfers it to the pump.
- Horizontal type - the pump's circuit runs along the surface of the ground at a certain depth.
- Vertical type - the circuit is positioned perpendicular to the surface of the ground and is used to extract heat from the soil.