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Heat pumps: how they work |
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Heat pumps: how they work
Heat pumps are a high-performance solution for producing heat using energy captured from the surrounding environment.
How do they work?
A heat pump is essentially a refrigerator in reverse: the refrigerator draws heat from its inside compartment and sends it outside to lower the temperature of the food. A heat pump, on the other hand, takes the heat provided by the outside environment ( air, water, or the earth beneath your garden) and makes use of it by raising its temperature and transferring it into the home via various kinds of heating systems (e.g. underfloor heating, network of existing radiators) which in turn provides a healthy, gentle and even heat, thanks to a precise and flexible regulation system.
The heat pump therefore uses a form of energy that is natural, inexhaustible, clean and economical: each kilowatt consumed to operate the heat pump gives 3 to 5 kW of useable heat for your home in return.
Sofath’s four kinds of heat collectors
Horizontal ground collector
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Depending on climate conditions, a horizontal ground collector requires an outside surface of between 100% and 150% of the surface to be heated. The network of coils, a closed circuit filled with refrigerant or glycol water is buried 60 cm to 80 cm below ground. This is the most widespread solution in France because it is the simplest to install and provides the highest efficiency. |
Vertical collector
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A geothermal probe filled with glycol water circulates inside a closed circuit and collects energy from between 50 and 150 metres underground. A vertical collector is more expensive than a horizontal collector but remains popular in some European Countries like Germany or Switzerland where the surface of the gardens is small. It is a good technical solution for the big buildings. |
Groundwater collector
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To take heat from groundwater is a good option where ground water is available in enough supply at a depth of 10 to 20 metres. This is in great demand from customers who have small or uneven plots of land. The water captured comes from water tables underground, the temperature of which is constant throughout the year (between 10 and 12°C), meaning the heat pump will have a high efficiency. |
Air collector
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An air collector involves recovering heat from the surrounding air, transferring it to a central heating network. This technology can be used on its own or in addition to a conventional heat pump. |
