Contents

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Heat Pumps
• o Vapor Compression System
•  Advantages of vapor compression heat pumps
• Disadvantages of vapor compression heat pumps
• o Absorption Systems
•  The advantages of the absorption heat pump or refrigeration systems
• o Thermoelectric heat pumps
•  The advantages of the thermoelectric heat pumps or refrigerators
•  Disadvantages of the thermoelectric devices
•  Sources of heat for heat pumps
• Appendix

Description

The work covers the thermodynamic principals of heat pumps and covers the different types of heat pumps with their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the capacity being looked at and the type of power source available, the type of heat pump most suited can be selected for the application. The coefficients of performance give an idea as to the power needed and the working fluids used do give an indication as to the toxicity or ozone depletion potential in case of leakage and hence the safety of the system as such. The other aspects that deal with efficient energy use as applied to heat pumps are the concept of proper insulation and types, the locations where commonly used and in addition there is a treatment of passive cooling and heating technologies. The thermodynamic maximum Coefficient of Performance of each type is described and the values can be compared where there is a choics of the type to be chosen, based on this value.