Refrigerator and Heat pump

Refrigerators and heat pumps are essentially the same devices; they differ in their objectives only.

Refrigerator : To maintain the refrigerated space at a low temperature by removing heat from it.Discharging this heat to a higher-temperature medium (Surrounding) is merely a necessary part of the operation,not the purpose.

Heat pump : To maintain a heated space at a high temperature. This is accomplished by absorbing heat from a low-temperature source (such as well water or outside cold air during winter) and supplying this heat to a warmer medium such as a house.

        

Refrigerator v/s Heat pumps

1. Transfer of heat : Both the refrigerator and the heat pumps carry the heat from low temperature reservoir or the sink to the high temperature reservoir or source. The main purpose of the refrigerator is to chill or cool or freeze the substance, by maintaining very low temperature in the freezer. It absorbs the heat from the freezer or evaporator and deliver it to the atmosphere which is at high temperature. The main purpose of the heat pump is to heat the room during winter seasons or when the atmospheric temperature is very low. It absorbs the heat from the atmosphere which is at low temperature and delivers it to the room which is at high temperature and which is to be heated.

2. Location of the evaporator : In the refrigerator the evaporator is located in the freezer section. The evaporator absorbs the heat from the substance, which is to be cooled. In the heat pump the evaporator is located outside the room which is to be heated. The evaporator absorbs the heat from the atmosphere.

3. Location of the condenser : In the refrigerator the condenser is located outside the refrigerator and it is exposed to the atmosphere. It is through the condenser that the heat is rejected to the atmosphere. In the heat pump the condenser is located inside the room and it acts as the heating device.

4. Working of evaporator and condenser : In the refrigerator the evaporator performs the main function of chilling or freezing, while the condenser performs the function of delivering the heat to the atmosphere. In the heat pump, it is the condenser that performs the main function of heating the room, while the evaporator performs the function of absorbing the heat from the atmosphere.

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