Classification Of Thermal Pumps

A systematic classification of different types of heat pumps is difficult because the classification can be made from different points of view, for example. purpose, power, type of heat source, type of heat pump process etc. If heat is distributed through mass flow, for example. warm air or warm water, this mass flow is called a carrier.

Usually, in the United States heat pumps are designated for heating of buildings depending on the type of heat source (the first place) and the type of the heat carrier (second place). A distinction can be made between the terms:

Heat pump, covering only the aspect of the refrigeration machine, and
The heat pump plant, which besides the heat pump itself also contains the source of the heat.

Such differentiation is due to the heat from sources of heat is transferred to the cold side of the heat pump on the intermediate circuit, cold carrier.

Another usual classification distinguishes

The main heat pumps that use natural source of heat present in the environment, such as outdoor air, soil, groundwater and surface water,
Secondary heat pumps, which allow re-use of waste heat as the heat source, soE. is already in use of heat, such as exhaust air, wastewater, waste heat from the cooling rooms, and
Tertiary heat pumps, which in series with the primary or secondary heat pump in order to increase achieved, but still relatively low temperature in the future, for example. for preparation of hot water.

In addition, heat pumps, as a rule, are classified according to their respective sources and flows of heat. Depending on the cooling needs, different heat source and heat sink arrangements are possible in practical applications. Six main types of heat pumps are:

Water-water,
Water-to-air
Air-to-air
Air and water,
Ground-water and
Ground-to-air.

In each of these types, the first term represents a source of heat for heating or heat sink for cooling. Schematic of the most common types of heat pumps are also shown on Fig. 4.2.

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