Section 8: Air Source Heat

Pumps

Unit 43: Air Source Heat Pumps

 Reverse-Cycle Refrigeration
• Air-conditioning equipment can only
pump heat in one direction
• Heat pumps can pump heat two ways
– Also have a four-way reversing valve
– Four-way reversing valves control the
direction of flow of the heat-laden vapor
between the low- and high-pressure sides
of the system
 Heat Sources For Winter
• Air conditioners pump heat from low
temperature inside the structure to a
higher temperature outside the house
• At 0°F outside air temperature, there is
still 85% usable heat in the air
• The heat pump removes heat from the
outside air in the winter and deposits it
in the conditioned space to heat it
 Heat Sources For Winter
(cont’d.)

Figure 43–2 An air-to-air heat pump removing heat from 0°F air and
depositing it in a structure for winter heat
 The Four-Way Valve
• Allows the heat pump to pump heat in
two directions
• Diverts the discharge gas to either heat
or cool the conditioned space
• Refrigerant is directed from the
compressor to the indoor coil in the
heating mode
The Four-Way Valve (cont’d.)
• Refrigerant is directed from the
compressor to the outdoor unit in the
cooling mode
• Controlled by the space temperature
thermostat
• Pilot-operated valve
• Four piping connections on the valve
The Four-Way Valve (cont’d.)

Figure 43–7 Internal slide in the four-way reversing valve. The solenoid
determines the position of the slide. Most systems operate in the heating mode
when the solenoid is deenergized. (A) Position of the slide when the solenoid is
deenergized. (B) Position of the slide when the solenoid is energized
 Types of Heat Pumps
• Air is not the only source from which a
heat pump can absorb heat
– Other heat sources for heat pumps include
water and earth
– A typical water-to-air heat pump uses 3
gallons of water per minute in the heating
cycle and 1.5 gallons of water per minute
in the cooling mode per ton of refrigeration
 The Air-to-Air Heat Pump
• Most popular type
• Basic sealed system components of a
heat pump are the same as an air
conditioner, but the terminology changes
• In a heat pump, the terms indoor coil and
outdoor coil are used
• The function of each coil changes as the
operating mode of the heat pump changes
 The Air-to-Air Heat Pump
(cont’d.)
• Function of coils in the heating mode
– Outdoor coil absorbs heat by boiling
refrigerant at low temperature and pressure
(evaporator)
– Indoor coil rejects heat by condensing it to a
high-temperature and pressure vapor
(condenser)
– Hot gas from the compressor is first pumped
to the indoor coil
Figure 43–9 In the
heating mode, the
high-pressure hot gas
from the compressor
is directed to push the
main valve’s slide to
the left. This directs
the hot gas from the
compressor to the
indoor coil to provide
space heating. Notice
that the solenoid is
deenergized
 The Air-to-Air Heat Pump
(cont’d.)
• Function of coils in the cooling mode
– Indoor coil absorbs heat by boiling refrigerant
at low temperature and pressure (evaporator)
– Outdoor coil rejects heat by condensing it to a
high-temperature and pressure vapor
(condenser)
– Refrigerant from the compressor is first
pumped to the outdoor coil
Figure 43–10 In the
cooling mode, the
high-pressure hot gas
from the compressor
is directed to push the
main valve’s slide to
the right. This directs
the hot gas from the
compressor to the
outdoor coil. Notice
that the solenoid is
energized
 The Air-to-Air Heat Pump
(cont’d.)
• Mode of operation is determined by which
way the hot gas from the compressor is
flowing
• Mode of operation can be determined by
touching the gas line to the indoor coil
– In the cooling mode, the gas line will feel cool
– In the heating mode, the gas line will feel hot
Refrigerant Line Identification
• The larger diameter line is called the
gas line because only refrigerant vapor
flows through it
• The gas line is a cold gas line in the
summer and a hot gas line in the winter
Refrigerant Line Identification
(cont’d.)
• The smaller diameter line is called the
liquid line because only liquid refrigerant
travels through it
• During the cooling mode, the liquid
travels to the indoor coil
• During the heating mode, the liquid
travels to the outdoor coil
 Refrigerant Line Identification
(cont’d.)

Figure 43–16 This split-system heat pump shows the interconnecting refrigerant lines
 Metering Devices
• Specially designed for heat pump
applications
• There must be a metering device at the
outdoor unit in the heating mode
• There must be a metering device at the
indoor coil in the cooling mode
 Thermostatic Expansion
Valves
• Maintains desired superheat in the
evaporator
• Check valves are piped parallel to the
TXV to allow refrigerant to bypass the
control when needed
Thermostatic Expansion
Valves
 Thermostatic Expansion
Valves (cont’d.)
• Heating mode
– The refrigerant flows through the TXV at
the outdoor coil
– The refrigerant bypasses the TXV at the
indoor coil
 Thermostatic Expansion
Valves (cont’d.)
• Cooling mode
– The refrigerant flows through the TXV at
the indoor coil
– The refrigerant bypasses the TXV at the
outdoor coil
 Thermostatic Expansion
Valves (cont’d.)

Figure 43–18 (A) In the heating mode, hot gas from the compressor flows through the
indoor coil and through the open check valve to bypass the indoor metering device.
(B) In the cooling mode, high-pressure liquid refrigerant is directed through the
metering device because the check valve will be in the closed position
 Electronic Expansion Devices
• Can meter refrigerant in both directions
• If indoor and outdoor coils are close
together, one device can be used
• The correct superheat will be
maintained in both heating and cooling
modes
 Liquid Line Accessories
• Two standard filter driers can be
used on systems with check valves
– Only one drier in the circuit at a time
– They are installed with the arrows
pointing in the same direction as the
check valves
• Bi-flow filter driers
– Two driers in one
– Designed for heat pump applications
 Liquid Line Accessories
(cont’d.)

Figure 43–24 In the heating mode, the cooling metering device is bypassed
 Application of the Air-to-Air
Heat Pump
• Usually installed in milder climates
– In winter, the outdoor coil absorbs heat
• If outside temperature is 10°
– Refrigerant boils at approximately -15°
• Compressor and the system lose efficiency as
the evaporator temperature drops
• The system loses capacity as the outside
temperature drops
 Split-System Air-to-Air Heat
Pumps
• Air-to-air systems can be split or
package type
• Both heat pumps and straight cooling
units look identical
• Split systems require the installation of
the gas and liquid refrigerant lines to
connect the indoor and outdoor units
 Auxiliary Heat
• Required when the heat pump cannot
provide all the heat a structure needs
– The heat pump is the primary heat source
– Auxiliary heat could be electric, oil or gas
– Electric heat is the most common auxiliary
heat used
– As the outside temperature drops, the
structure requires more heat
 Balance Point
• Balance point occurs when the heat
pump can pump in exactly as much
heat as the structure is leaking out
• Above the balance point, the heat pump
will cycle on and off
• Below the balance point, the heat pump
will run continuously and second stage
(auxiliary) heat will be energized
 Air Temperature of the
Conditioned Air
• Air temperatures of a heat pump are not
as hot as with fossil-fuel equipment
• Maximum heat pump air supply
temperatures are around 100°F
• Most heat pumps require a minimum of
450 cfm per ton of refrigeration
• Supply air temperature will fall when
outside air temperatures drop
 The Outdoor Unit Installation
• Must have good air circulation around it
– Prevailing winds affect performance
– In the wintertime, the outdoor coil will
collect moisture that freezes
– Outdoor coil should be installed so it is
raised above the ground pad to allow
defrost water to run to the ground
– A defrost system defrosts the ice from the
outdoor coil
 The Defrost Cycle
• Defrosts ice from outside coil during winter
– Outdoor coil operates below freezing anytime
the outside air is below 45°F
• Operates 20°to 25°F below outside air temp.
– The need for defrost varies depending on
outside air temperatures and conditions
• The more moisture in the air, the more frost that
forms on the outdoor coil
– Defrosting affects system efficiency
 The Defrost Cycle (cont’d.)
• How is defrost accomplished?
– By stopping the outdoor fan and cycling unit
into cooling mode
• One stage of strip heat is turned on
• The system cools/heats at the same time
– Demand defrost: defrosting only as needed
• Combinations of time, temperature, and pressure
drop across the outdoor coil are also used in
some systems to determine when defrost is
needed
 The Defrost Cycle (cont’d.)
• Electronic control of defrost
– Electronic timers and thermistors used to
control defrost
– More accurate control than non-electronic
methods
– Can incorporate time and temperature
features into a single unit
 Indoor Fan Motor Control
• The blower must be started at the
beginning of each mode of operation
– Indoor blower is started with the thermostat
• Blower switch terminal function is normally the
G terminal on the thermostat
• The indoor blower motor often operates during
defrost
– Circulates air to prevent coil freezing
– Air is tempered to prevent cold air in occupied space
Troubleshooting the Four-Way
Valve
• Common problems: stuck valve,
defective coil, and internal leaks
– Check to see if coil is energized
• A warm coil indicates power is being supplied
• Place a screwdriver on coil surface to sense
magnetic field
– Check for voltage supplied to the coil
• Defective coils can be replaced without
changing entire valve
Troubleshooting the Four-Way
Valve (cont’d.)
• Four-way valves leaking through can be
confused with a compressor that is not
pumping to capacity
– Capacity of the system will not be normal
in summer or winter cycles
– Check the temperature of the low-side line,
the suction line from the evaporator, and
the permanent suction line between the
four-way valve and the compressor
Figure 43-60 (B)
A line diagram
showing a
defective valve in
cooling and
heating
 Summary
• Heat pumps can pump heat two ways to
provide both heating and cooling
• Four-way reversing valves control the
direction of flow of the heat-laden vapor
between the low- and high-pressure
sides of the system
 Summary (cont’d.)
• In the cooling mode, the outdoor coil
functions as the condenser and the
indoor coil functions as the evaporator
• In the heating mode, the outdoor coil
functions as the evaporator and the
indoor coil functions as the condenser
 Summary (cont’d.)
• Metering devices are located at the inlet
of both the indoor and outdoor coils
• Check valves are used to bypass the
metering device that should not be in
the active refrigerant circuit
• Bidirectional or bi-flow filter driers are
two driers in a single shell and are
designed for heat pump applications
 Summary (cont’d.)
• In the heating mode, heat pumps lose
efficiency as the outside ambient
temperature drops
• Auxiliary heat is required when the heat
pump cannot provide all the heat a
structure needs
 Summary (cont’d.)
• Balance point occurs when the heat
pump can pump in exactly as much
heat as the structure is leaking out
• Coefficient of performance (COP) is the
ratio of usable heat (in watts) produced
from each watt of energy purchased
 Summary (cont’d.)
• Maximum air supply temperatures are
around 100°F
• Outdoor coil should be installed so it is
raised above the ground pad to allow
defrost water to run to the ground
• A defrost system is provided to defrost
the ice from the outdoor coil
 Summary (cont’d.)
• During the heating mode, system is
operating as a low-temperature
refrigeration system
• Common reversing valve problems
include: stuck valve, defective coil and
internal leaks
 Summary (cont’d.)
• Temperature readings of the reversing
valve connections can be taken to
evaluate the valve
• Most heat pumps are critically charged
systems
• If the system operated correctly in at
least one mode, the refrigerant charge
is correct