Parts of an electric heat pump
The parts of an electric heat pump are the same as the air conditioner or refrigerator.
The only difference is that they operate in a reverse manner.
It is for the same reason that the heat pump is also called a reverse refrigerator. The electric heat pump has four major components; the evaporator, expansion valve, condenser, and compressor. In air conditioning and refrigeration systems, the evaporator performs the most crucial function of freezing and cooling. Still, in electric heat pumps, the condenser performs the most crucial function of heating your living space. The coils, evaporator, and condenser coils, heat or cool your indoor air depending on the heat pump mode or the directional flow of the refrigerant. Along with the four major components of your heat pump, another important part is the refrigerant. The refrigerant utilized in the electric heat pump cycle is similar to the refrigerant used in air conditioning systems. Some of the most commonly used refrigerants include chlorofluorohydrocarbons, though multiple other alternatives have been discovered. The thermostatic expansion valves control the flow of refrigerant through your system. The accumulator is another component that acts as a reservoir that adjusts your refrigerant charge depending on your seasonal needs. The compressor moves the refrigerant through your system. Some electric heat pumps contain a scroll compressor. Compared to a piston compressor, scroll compressors are quieter, have a lengthier lifespan, and generate about 10° up to 15° warmer air during the heating cycle. Then we have the reversing valves that allow your electric heat pump system to provide both cooling and heating by changing the flow of refrigerant through your system, which determines if your indoor space is heated or cooled.