Lämpöpumppaus

Lämpöpumppaus is a Finnish term referring to the process of heat pumping. Heat pumping is a thermodynamic cycle that transfers thermal energy from a colder source to a warmer sink using mechanical work. This technology is commonly employed for heating and cooling buildings, as well as for water heating.

The fundamental principle behind heat pumping involves a refrigerant that circulates through a closed loop. In the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the colder source, such as outdoor air, ground, or water, and turns into a gas. This gas is then compressed by a compressor, increasing its temperature and pressure. The hot, high-pressure gas flows into the condenser, where it releases heat to the warmer sink, typically the indoor air or water, and condenses back into a liquid. Finally, the liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature, and the cycle repeats.

There are various types of heat pumps, categorized by their heat source and sink. Air-source heat pumps are the most common, utilizing outdoor air. Ground-source heat pumps, also known as geothermal heat pumps, extract heat from the earth, which maintains a more stable temperature year-round. Water-source heat pumps use bodies of water as their heat source.

Heat pumps are considered an energy-efficient technology because they move heat rather than generate it through combustion. This can lead to significant reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional heating systems. The efficiency of a heat pump is often measured by its Coefficient of Performance (COP) for heating and its Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) for cooling, which indicate the ratio of useful heat output or cooling effect to the electrical energy input.