TECHNOLOGY // TECHNICAL DOSSIERS // INSIDE THE ABSORPTION TECHNOLOGY // Heat pumps comparison: gas vs electricity
Electric Heat Pump | Gas Absorption Heat Pump |
a compressor | a generator an absorber |
a condenser | a condenser |
an expansion valve | a series of restrictors |
an evaporator | an evaporator |
Electric Heat Pump | Gas Absorption Heat Pump |
Condensation: refrigerant flowing from the compressor passes from a gaseous to liquid state, giving off heat to the outside | Condensation: refrigerant flowing from the generator passes from a gaseous to liquid state, giving off heat to the external fluid (water or air) |
Expansion: passing through the expansion valve, the liquid refrigerant cools and is partially transformed into vapour | Expansion: passing through the restrictors, i.e. suitably calibrated narrowings, the refrigerant is cooled |
Evaporation: the refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates completely | Evaporation: the refrigerant absorbs heat from the external fluid (water or air) and evaporates completely, returning to a gaseous state |
Compression: the refrigerant, in a gaseous state and at low pressure, coming from the evaporator, is taken to a high pressure; during compression it is heated, absorbing a certain amount of heat | Absorber: the refrigerant is absorbed by an absorbing fluid, making it liquid once more Generator: the liquid solution of the refrigerant and absorbing is heated in the generator by means of a gas burner, separating the refrigerant, which evaporates, increasing in temperature and pressure |
All of these transformations together make up the electric heat pump’s cycle: the compressor provides the refrigerant with energy, the refrigerant absorbs heat in the evaporator from the surrounding medium, and through the condenser, transfers it to the medium to be heated | All of these transformations together make up the gas heat pump’s cycle: by supplying energy with the gas burner (methane/LPG) the refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs heat from the external fluid and, through the condenser, transfers it to the medium to be heated |