Heat pump function
A exhaust air heat pump uses the heat that is in the building's ventilation air
to heat up the accommodation. The conversion of the ventilation air's energy
to accommodation heating occurs in three different circuits. From the outgoing
ventilation air (1) , free heating energy is retrieved from the accommodation
and transported to the heat pump. In the refrigerant circuit, (2) the heat
pump increases the retrieved heat's low temperature to a high temperature.
In the heating medium circuit, (3) the heat is distributed around the house.
Ventilation air
The hot air is transferred from the rooms to the heat pump via the house ventil-
ation system.
A
The fan then routes the air to the heat pump’s evaporator. Here, the air releases
the heating energy to the brine and the air's temperature drops significantly. The
cold air is then blown out of the house.
B
Refrigerant circuit
Another liquid circulates in a closed system in the heat pump, a refrigerant, which
also passes the evaporator. The refrigerant has a very low boiling point. In the
evaporator the refrigerant receives the heat energy from the ventilation air and
starts to boil.
C
The gas that is produced during boiling is routed into an electrically powered
compressor. When the gas is compressed, the pressure increases and the gas's
temperature increases considerably, from -5 °C to approx. 100 °C.
D
From the compressor, gas is forced into a heat exchanger, condenser, where it
releases heat energy to the heat pump boiler section, whereupon the gas is cooled
and condenses to a liquid form again.
E
As the pressure is still high, the refrigerant can pass an expansion valve, where
the pressure drops so that the refrigerant returns to its original temperature. The
refrigerant has now completed a full cycle. It is routed to the evaporator again
and the process is repeated.
F
Heat medium circuit
The heat energy that the refrigerant produces in the condenser is retrieved by
the climate system's water, heating medium, which is heated to 55 °C (supply
temperature).
G
The heating medium circulates in a closed system and transports the heated wa-
ter's heat energy to the heat pump's integrated hot water heater and the radiat-
ors/heating coils of the house.
H
Buffer vessel
The heating medium passes the heat pump's integrated buffer vessel whereupon
the temperature is equalised. It is then transported to the heating system of the
house.
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NIBE™ F750Chapter 2 | The heat pump – the heart of the house10