Heat pumps are able to produce more energy than they consume by using the conventional refrigeration cycle to absorb heat from the environment and raise it to a suitable level for heating.
- Brine circulates in a collector coil and absorbs the heat energy from bedrock, ground, air or water.
- At the heat exchanger (evaporator) the tepid brine in the collector coil meets the ice-cold refrigerant in the heat pump, which is then heated a few degrees and evaporates.
- Then, a compressor compresses the refrigerant. The heat that is then generated is transferred via a heat exchanger (condenser) to the house's heating system.
- The refrigerant circulates and an expansion valve lowers the pressure and the refrigerant becomes cold again.
- The process begins again when the refrigerant meets the tepid brine from the collector coil.