by High Performance HVAC | Refrigeration |
Scroll Compressors - One of the workhorses for heat pumps and air conditioners is the scroll compressor. The scroll compressor works as many other compressors do as far as the refrigeration process is concerned. The scroll compresses the refrigerant thereby raising its pressure and temperature. The compressor does its job by making cool refrigerant and turning it into hot refrigerant changing both the temperature and the pressure. Since the late 90′s, the scroll has taken off and has nearly replaced the reciprocating compressor in the average air conditioner and heat pump system. Two-stage scroll compressors have replaced using two reciprocating compressors in an air conditioner or heat pump condenser that is high efficiency.
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by High Performance HVAC | Heat Pumps |
Heat Pump Electric Backup Heating Basics. There are different types of electric heating available in homes. Probably the most common use for electric heat other than portable electric heating units is electric heat strips. Electric heat strips used for backup heat in heat pumps. Sizing the electric heat strips for heat pump backup heating applications will depend on many different variables.
These variables include the size of the space to be heated and the insulation values of the whole structure. It also includes doors and windows. Additionally, it includes the geographical location of the dwelling, along with many other factors. Backup heat for heat pumps is essential for the defrost cycle. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
HVAC Manufacturers | Heating and Cooling - Heating and Cooling Manufacturers are always improving the energy efficiency of their products using innovation and modern technology to help. HVAC manufacturers are required by the government to increase the efficiency ratings of equipment sold. Usually, this is a mandate passed down by Congress that will set a standard for a minimum efficiency of air conditioners and heating systems. Usually, this mandate is the result of manufacturers, the department of energy, and other industry concerns meeting and agreeing to a new minimum that is more efficient and utilizes less energy than previous models and designs. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
Learning the Basics of HVAC - To understand air conditioning and heat pump applications you will need to study refrigeration. Both air conditioners and heat pumps use refrigeration to move heat. Air conditioners move heat outside in the summertime using the process of refrigeration. Furthermore, heat pumps move heat in both directions (to the inside in the winter and to the outside in the summer) using the principles of refrigeration. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Conditioning |
What Type of HVAC System Needed for Sun Porch - We added a 300 sq. ft. of living space to our home as a sun porch. How do we effectively, efficiently heat/cool this space? We’ve been pitched several options. 1) Use existing with a manual duct damper to the new sun porch. 2) same as above but use a zoned approach. Zoned w/auto dampers for main house 1st floor and sun porch plus separate thermostats. 3) HVAC with new units for sun porch (e.g., radiate, forced air, etc) (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
SEER Definition: The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER number the better the system is at converting electricity into cooling your home. Simply put, manufacturers use it to differentiate between less efficient equipment to the more efficient equipment they sell.
Equipment is tested in a third-party laboratory and the results are certified by ARI. Furthermore, the result of the testing can be looked up in the ARI database for each of equipment if you have the model number. It should be noted that ARI uses strict testing parameters in testing HVAC equipment. Additionally, these standards are issued by ANSI or other respected organizations that issue standardization rules throughout the industry. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Refrigeration |
TXV or Thermostatic Expansion Valve are used in air conditioners and heat pumps to meter refrigerant.
The TXV or Thermostatic Expansion Valve is preferred over other refrigeration metering devices because it only allows a specified amount of refrigerant to flow based on demand. Any type of refrigeration metering device creates a pressure drop in the refrigerant and with a pressure drop of the refrigerant a temperature drop also occurs.
This temperature is necessary to drop the refrigerant down to temperature lower than ambient temperatures inside the structure being cooled. This allows the refrigerant to absorb the heat contained in the air passing over the evaporator coil. (more…)
