5. Heat pumps and refrigerators

Heat pumps and refrigerators are thermal energy converters: they use mechanical energy to move thermal energy from a cold source to a hot sink.

The Carnot heat generator (seen in section Carnot heat pump/refrigerators) presents the maximum thermal efficiency but Real heat generators are generally not exchanging thermal energy using isothermal transformations.

This chapter treats:

1. Gas heat pump and refrigeration cycle (reverse Brayton cycle)

2. Vapor compression heat pumps and refrigerators

Contents:

• 5.1. Gas heat pump and refrigeration cycle
• 5.2. Vapor compression machines