Question

what is the most economical way to use a heat pump?

Answer 1

Hint:Before we proceed with the problem, it is important to know about the heat pumps and their efficiency. A heat pump is a device that is used to transfer heat energy to a thermal reservoir. They are often used to transfer thermal energy by absorbing heat energy from a cold reservoir and releasing it into a warmer one.

Complete answer:
Heat pumps transfer heat from a cold body to a hot body at the cost of mechanical energy supplied to it by an external agent. A heat pump generally consists of four key components which include a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve and an evaporator.

The efficiency of a heat pump is the ratio between how much energy the heat pump produces and how much electrical energy it consumes. Heat pumps are efficient and more so than normal air-conditioning systems and boilers. Yet, if the operational conditions are not optimal, much of that efficiency can go to waste, which means it costs high.

The most economical way to use a heat pump as following:
1. When the heat pump is not used, switch off the pump so that unnecessary power cannot be loosed.
2. The filter of heat pump (both indoor and outdoor) needs to be cleaned regularly. This reduces the replacement costs of the filters.
3. The efficient way to use a heat pump is to keep the setting at low temperature so that the room can get heated quickly and uniformly.
4. You need to ensure that you get the right size heat pump to ensure maximum efficiency could be achieved.

Note:While attempting this question make sure you don’t get confused with heat engines and pumps.Heat engines draw heat from a source of high temperature, transform some of it into work, and reject the remaining heat to a source of low temperature. With a heat pump, the reverse takes place.