Learn More About Heat Pump Hot Water Systems

Let's get to know and understand more about the heat pump hot water system. 

The classic electric kettle is a familiar and traditional device that we have known since childhood. We used to start by burning wood or charcoal to create a flame and then place the kettle on it until the water in the pot boiled. This was done to kill germs, and the hot water was used for various purposes or mixed with cold water to make warm water for bathing infants.

kettl

As technology has advanced, the use of boilers has evolved. While biomass fuel is still used to heat water, modern systems can produce a larger amount of heat. However, due to the nature of these devices, the process involves converting energy by burning biomass fuel to generate heat. This energy conversion process inevitably results in energy loss. Boiler or steam boiler Another alternative device still uses the same method of energy conversion. It utilizes electrical energy passed through electric coils to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. This thermal energy is then used for various applications, such as heating water or air. 

Heat Pump

Now we come to the star device that helps reduce energy consumption: the heat pump. This device operates differently from the previously mentioned equipment. A heat pump uses a refrigeration cycle to drive the system, resulting in "energy transfer" from one place to another, rather than "energy conversion." This allows the heat pump to achieve up to four times the efficiency. 

In the refrigeration cycle used in a heat pump, electrical energy powers the compressor to increase the pressure of the refrigerant. When the refrigerant's pressure is elevated, the next component, called the condenser, takes over. The condenser's role is to transfer energy from the external medium to the refrigerant (energy source 1). In the heat pump, water is used as the medium for this energy exchange.  

The refrigerant absorbs heat and thus cools down, causing it to condense into a liquid. It then prepares to enter the next component, the expansion valve. When the refrigerant, now at high pressure and in a condensed state, passes through this valve, its pressure drops suddenly, leading to a phase change into vapor. This process involves energy exchange from the external medium back to the refrigerant (energy source 2), pulling heat into the refrigerant and causing it to evaporate. The external medium, having lost heat, cools down as a result. This component is called the evaporator. Once the refrigerant has fully evaporated into a gas, it cycles back to the compressor to repeat the process.

By this point, you should have a clear picture of how the refrigeration cycle works in its entirety. You can see that the heat and cold generated are the result of energy transfer from one source to another, rather than a change in energy form from one type to another, as seen in devices like steam boilers or heating coils. The refrigeration cycle is something we encounter almost daily, with the most common example being air conditioners. Heat pumps use the same refrigeration cycle but operate in reverse compared to air conditioners. They are less frequently seen because they are more expensive compared to heating coils. 

However, from the perspective of the energy required to produce hot water, heat pumps can help save up to four times more compared to electric coils. For example, if the electricity cost is 100 baht, you could reduce the cost to only 25 baht with a heat pump. Therefore, in businesses such as hotels, industrial factories, hospitals, and other enterprises that use large amounts of hot water, heat pumps are chosen for their hot water production.

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