UNIT 4 - THE HEAT PUMP:-

It is an air conditioning unit that

consists of a combination of
components arranged to supply
heating in one cycle and cooling
when cycle is reversed. Heat pumps
can be effective in moderate or warm
climate as well as in northern cooler
climates.
A) HEATING CYCLE:-

In this, the heat is taken from the

outside air and released to the
inside air. See figure on the next
slide.
B) COOLING CYCLE:-

In this, the heat from inside the room

is taken and released to the outside
air. Components remain the same for
heating and cooling the cycle but the
refrigerant flow is reversed. See figure
on the next slide.
This reversed flow is readily achieved
through cooling and heating coils but
not through expansion valve and the
compressor. In figure, they are shown
reversed from there positions.
C) HEATING & COOLING CYCLES:-

In actual practice, the components

arranged as shown in figures, are
used for both the heating and cooling
functions of the heat pump. The
system employs two expansion
valves, along with bye pass and
check valves.
In addition, a four way valve and
suitable piping ensures a one way
flow through the compressor. The
valve, as shown, is set for the
heating cycle.

A simple repositioning makes this

valve and the compressor piping,
suitable for cooling cycle operation.
See the inset in the figure, on the
next slide.
ABSORPTION – REFRIGERATION
SYSTEM:-

This system uses refrigerant, an

adsorbent and heat to create cooling
effect. This system does not use any
moving parts in an absorption cycle.
The cycle depends upon action and
reaction between the refrigerant and
an adsorbent under various pressure
and temperature conditions in vacuum.
It makes use of the cooling effect that
results when liquid flash to gaseous
state and the condensing effect that
results when heat is removed.

The operation of the absorption –

refrigeration cycle depends on heat
applied at a key point and on strong
attraction of refrigerant moisture to an
adsorbent medium.
ABSORPTION – REFRIGERATION SYSTEM:-
REFRIGERANT ADSORBENT HEAT

1. WATER + LITHIUM BROMIDE + HEAT

2. AMMONIA + WATER + HEAT
THE CYCLE:

As liquids boil (vaporize) more

quickly at a low pressure and in a
vacuum and adsorbent has an
ability to absorb moisture readily,
when the refrigerant flows in to the
low pressure evaporator (chiller),
some of it flashes to a vapour.
As a result, the remaining liquid
refrigerant is cooled (chilled) and is
able to remove heat from the water
passing through evaporator
chamber. The pick up of heat
causes more refrigerant to vaporize,
resulting in more cooling.
After refrigerant liquid picks up
heat, it flows to the absorber
chamber, as a result of the
drawing action of adsorbent. In
absorber, the vapour mixes with
or is dissolved in, the liquid
adsorbent causes a pressure
different between absorber and
evaporator. The pressure in
absorber is slightly lower than that
of the evaporator.
The liquid adsorbent and refrigerant
vapour mixture flows from absorber
to generator, where it is heated until
the adsorbent and the refrigerant
percolate, or boil. As a result, the
refrigerant vapour separates from the
liquid adsorbent. The heat added in
the generator increases the pressure
of the refrigerant vapour.
The refrigerant is now heated and is
in a gaseous state when it passes to
the condenser, where heat is
removed and refrigerant vapour
condenses into a liquid.
The functions of condenser are
similar for both the absorption and
compression refrigeration systems.
Liquid refrigerant then flows through
a metering device and flashes in to
the low pressure evaporator, where
the cycle begins again.
In summary, the basic equipment in
the absorption refrigeration system
includes the evaporator (chiller),
absorber, generator and heat
source and metering device.

In some systems heat is directly

transferred from supply air to the
refrigerant in evaporator.
Some systems use water as
adsorbent medium which has a
strong attraction for ammonia
and yet separates from it
readily when enough heat is
applied. Other systems use
Lithium Bromide, which is a
salt, as adsorbent medium and
water as refrigerant to which
the salt has an affinity.
Energy source in the generator
may be gas for small capacity
and steam or hot water for large
capacities. The functions
performed by absorber and
generator can be consider
similar to the action of a
compressor, i.e.
the absorber in a sense
compresses the refrigerant and
generator heats it with a resulting
high pressure condition.
END OF UNIT FOUR