REFRIGERATION SERVICE ENGINEERS SOCIETY mI Lesson 9 Air-to-Air Heat Pump Defrost TE *% VUROR OPER DROROEE e0-200Gerson After completing this Lesson, you will be able to: = Explain why defrost controls are needed for air-to-air heat pumps. "Describe the functions that all defrost controls have in common. = Describe the heat transfer processes that take place at the outdoor coll as water vapor in the ambient air condenses and freezes to a cold coil Discuss the methods used by various defrost controls to initiate and terminate the defrosting process. = Explain the importance of selecting the best defrost frequency. = List some common causes for the failure of a defrost system, = Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various defrost control systems. Explain the effect of outdoor air humidity levels on the frequency of defrost ‘eycles required to keop a heat pump operating efficiently {© Copyright 2004 bythe Reigoration Service Frginers SociLesson 9 Air-to-Air Heat Pump Defrost Miner IR-TO-AIR HEAT PUMPS USE THE OUTSIDE AIR AS A HEAT SOURCE FOR Aen the home in winter. In order to achieve this, the coil of the ‘outdoor section must operate at a temperature that is well below that of the outside air. Heat travels from a warmer material to a colder material. In this case, heat travels from the cold winter air to the even colder coil of the outdoor section. The outdoor coil temperature may be 20 to 25°F colder than the air passing over it. Frost can begin to form on the coil when the ambient air temperature is as high as 50°F. In most applications, the run time of the unit will be short enough at high ambient temperatures that active defrost is not necessary. The outdoor air will be warm enough to melt the frost between “ON” cycles. Typically, run cycles will be long enough to require active defrost when the ambient temperature is between 40 and 45°F, depending on the region of the country and the humidity levels of the outdoor air. Ice removal is not a difficult process. It must, however, be geared toward the ambient conditions in which the outdoor section operates. The following must bbe considered when you are adjusting a defrost control for proper operation: "Heat pumps operating in mild climates will require litte, if any, defrost. ™ Units operating during periods of high humidity will collect more frost on the outdoor coil. 760-200