Introduction

With the heat pump, heat can be extracted from the external environment (earth, water, air).
The heat energy that is extracted at a lower temperature is then raised to a higher temperature so that it can be used in a space heating system. This occurs in a closed-circuit system in which a special fluid (cooling liquid) evaporates constantly, is compressed and condensed once again. This way it is possible to bring the heat energy from a low temperature level to a high one.
The cooling liquid always stays unchanged inside the circuit and it is not used in the environment.
The compressor control works with electric energy. The efficiency of a heat pump is measured by the COP (Coefficient of Performance), that's to say the ratio between the thermal energy yielded to the body to be heated and the electric energy consumed so that the conveyance of the same heat can occur.

Main components of a heat pump

- THE COMPRESSOR
IDM uses an efficient Scroll compressor

- THE EVAPORATOR:
This is a steel-welded plate heat exchanger

- CONDENSER:
This is a steel-welded plate heat exchanger

- BUTTERFLY VALVE:
This is a thermostatically regulated expansion valve IDM Heat pump

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Heat sources:

The place heat is extracted from is called "heat source". There are various possibilities. One or the other of the different heat sources can be used depending on the availability and the possibility to manage them.

Surface collector

- easy installation
- cost-effective
- high temperatures all year long
- a good soil surface must be available

Perforation probe

- little soil surface is needed
- high temperatures all year long
- suitable for direct cooling
- high price

Ground water

- high temperatures all year long
- maximum COPs
- suitable for direct cooling
- the main ground water stratum must be available at a maximum depth of 30 m
- the available water must be of suitable quality

External air

- available everywhere
- no authorization needed
- not suitable for very high heating requirements = poor COP
- noisy evaporator

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