Absorption Heat Pumps
Absorption heat pumps are
essentially air-source heat
pumps driven not by electricity,
but by a heat source such as
natural gas, propane,
solar-heated water, or
geothermal-heated water.
Because natural gas is the most
common heat source for
absorption heat pumps, they are
also referred to as gas-fired heat
pumps.
essentially air-source heat
pumps driven not by electricity,
but by a heat source such as
natural gas, propane,
solar-heated water, or
geothermal-heated water.
Because natural gas is the most
common heat source for
absorption heat pumps, they are
also referred to as gas-fired heat
pumps.
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There are also absorption coolers available that work on the same principal, but are
not reversible and cannot serve as a heat source. These are also called gas-fired
coolers.
Residential absorption heat pumps use an ammonia-water absorption cycle to provide
heating and cooling. As in a standard heat pump, the refrigerant (in this case,
ammonia) is condensed in one coil to release its heat; its pressure is then reduced
and the refrigerant is evaporated to absorb heat. If the system absorbs heat from the
interior of your home, it provides cooling; if it releases heat to the interior of your
home, it provides heating.
The difference in absorption heat pumps is that the evaporated ammonia is not
pumped up in pressure in a compressor, but is instead absorbed into water. A
relatively low-power pump can then pump the solution up to a higher pressure. The
problem then is removing the ammonia from the water, and that's where the heat
source comes in. The heat essentially boils the ammonia out of the water, starting the
cycle again.
A key component in the units now on the market is generator absorber heat
exchanger technology, or GAX, which boosts the efficiency of the unit by recovering the
heat that is released when the ammonia is absorbed into the water. Other
innovations include high-efficiency vapor separation, variable ammonia flow rates, and
low-emissions, variable-capacity combustion of the natural gas.
Although mainly used in industrial or commercial settings, absorption coolers are now
commercially available for large residential homes, and absorption heat pumps are
under development. The 5-ton residential cooler systems currently available are only
appropriate for homes on the scale of 4,000 square feet or more.
Absorption coolers and heat pumps usually only make sense in homes without an
electricity source, but they have an added advantage in that they can make use of any
heat source. Because of this, they can make use of solar energy, geothermal hot
water, or other heat sources. They are also amenable to zoned systems, in which
different parts of the house are kept at different temperatures.
The efficiency of air-source absorption coolers and heat pumps is indicated by their
coefficient of performance (COP). COP is the ratio of either heat removed (for cooling)
or heat provided (for heating) in Btu per Btu of energy input. Look for a heating
efficiency of 1.2 COP or greater and a cooling efficiency of 0.7 COP or greater.
not reversible and cannot serve as a heat source. These are also called gas-fired
coolers.
Residential absorption heat pumps use an ammonia-water absorption cycle to provide
heating and cooling. As in a standard heat pump, the refrigerant (in this case,
ammonia) is condensed in one coil to release its heat; its pressure is then reduced
and the refrigerant is evaporated to absorb heat. If the system absorbs heat from the
interior of your home, it provides cooling; if it releases heat to the interior of your
home, it provides heating.
The difference in absorption heat pumps is that the evaporated ammonia is not
pumped up in pressure in a compressor, but is instead absorbed into water. A
relatively low-power pump can then pump the solution up to a higher pressure. The
problem then is removing the ammonia from the water, and that's where the heat
source comes in. The heat essentially boils the ammonia out of the water, starting the
cycle again.
A key component in the units now on the market is generator absorber heat
exchanger technology, or GAX, which boosts the efficiency of the unit by recovering the
heat that is released when the ammonia is absorbed into the water. Other
innovations include high-efficiency vapor separation, variable ammonia flow rates, and
low-emissions, variable-capacity combustion of the natural gas.
Although mainly used in industrial or commercial settings, absorption coolers are now
commercially available for large residential homes, and absorption heat pumps are
under development. The 5-ton residential cooler systems currently available are only
appropriate for homes on the scale of 4,000 square feet or more.
Absorption coolers and heat pumps usually only make sense in homes without an
electricity source, but they have an added advantage in that they can make use of any
heat source. Because of this, they can make use of solar energy, geothermal hot
water, or other heat sources. They are also amenable to zoned systems, in which
different parts of the house are kept at different temperatures.
The efficiency of air-source absorption coolers and heat pumps is indicated by their
coefficient of performance (COP). COP is the ratio of either heat removed (for cooling)
or heat provided (for heating) in Btu per Btu of energy input. Look for a heating
efficiency of 1.2 COP or greater and a cooling efficiency of 0.7 COP or greater.
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