The "Heart" In the Heat Pump: How Important Is the Compressor?

Friends, today we are going to talk about the most critical component in the heat pump - the compressor. Although it looks like a big iron can, it has a great role. It is simply the "heart" of the heat pump system!

Let's start with a vivid metaphor. If the heat pump is compared to a person, the evaporator is the mouth that takes in heat, the condenser is the hands and feet that release heat, and the compressor is our heart, responsible for "pumping" the "eaten" heat to where it is needed. Without it, the whole system will be paralyzed.

What is the compressor doing?

Simply put, the compressor has three core tasks:

Boosting

The compressor compresses the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator into high-temperature and high-pressure gas. This process is like inflating a balloon. The greater the pressure, the higher the temperature.

Transporting

The processed high-temperature and high-pressure gas is sent to the condenser to release heat, just like a courier delivering a package to a customer.

Maintain circulation

Ensure that the refrigerant can circulate continuously in the system. Without it, the entire system will "freeze".

What will happen without a compressor?

Imagine:

When the heat pump is cooling in summer, the heat absorbed by the evaporator cannot be transported to the outside

When heating in winter, the heat absorbed from the outside cannot be transported into the house

The system pressure is unbalanced and it goes on strike directly

So the quality of the compressor directly determines the efficiency and life of the heat pump. The common scroll, piston, and screw compressors on the market now have their own characteristics, so you have to study them carefully when selecting them.

The little secret of the compressor

Did you know? The noise when the compressor is working actually comes mainly from itself. So now high-end heat pumps are all soundproofed on the compressor. In addition, variable frequency compressors save more electricity than fixed frequency ones because they can adjust the "heartbeat" speed according to demand.

Next time you see the buzzing iron guy on the heat pump outdoor unit, remember that it is working hard!