Question 1

What does a heat pump do?

Accepted Answer

Moves heat from one place to another. A heat pump MOVES heat from a low-temperature source (air/ground/water) to a higher-temperature sink (building). It doesn't create heat by burning fuel.

Question 2

A heat pump works on the same principle as:

Accepted Answer

A refrigerator. A fridge extracts heat from inside and releases it at the back. A heat pump does the same on a larger scale - extracting heat from outside and delivering it inside.

Question 3

For every 1 unit of electricity used, a typical ASHP delivers:

Accepted Answer

2.5 to 4 units of heat. Heat pumps deliver 2.5-4 units of heat per unit of electricity. The extra energy is free environmental heat upgraded to a useful temperature.

Question 4

Where does the 'extra' energy come from that makes heat pumps so efficient?

Accepted Answer

Free environmental heat from air, ground, or water. The heat pump uses electricity to move heat, but the heat itself comes from the environment (outdoor air, ground, or water). This free heat is what gives CoP values above 1.0.

Question 5

What is the main environmental benefit of heat pumps?

Accepted Answer

Reduction in carbon emissions due to high efficiency. High efficiency (2.5-4x) reduces electricity demand and associated CO2 emissions. As the grid gets greener, HP emissions fall further.

Question 6

What is NOT a downside of an ASHP?

Accepted Answer

Can provide both heating AND cooling. Providing both heating and cooling is an ADVANTAGE, not a downside. Higher cost, lower flow temps, and noise are genuine challenges.

Question 7

How many stages are in the vapour compression refrigeration cycle?

Accepted Answer

4. 4 stages: Evaporator -> Compressor -> Condenser -> Expansion valve. Refrigerant circulates in a closed loop.

Question 8

What are the four main components of a heat pump?

Accepted Answer

Evaporator, compressor, condenser, expansion valve. The 4 components: Evaporator (absorbs heat), Compressor (raises temp), Condenser (releases heat), Expansion valve (drops pressure). All connected in a closed refrigerant loop.

Question 9

What happens in the EVAPORATOR?

Accepted Answer

Refrigerant absorbs heat from outdoor air and evaporates from liquid to gas. Low-pressure liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air (even in cold weather) and EVAPORATES - changes from liquid to gas. This is the heat absorption stage.

Question 10

What happens in the COMPRESSOR?

Accepted Answer

Gas is compressed to high pressure. The compressor squeezes the low-pressure gas into a much smaller volume, dramatically increasing both pressure AND temperature. This is the main electricity-consuming component.

Question 11

What happens in the CONDENSER?

Accepted Answer

Hot gas transfers heat to the heating water and condenses back to liquid. The hot high-pressure gas passes through the condenser, transferring its heat to the building's heating water. As it gives up heat, it cools and condenses back to a liquid.

Question 12

What happens at the EXPANSION VALVE?

Accepted Answer

High-pressure liquid has its pressure and temperature reduced sharply. The expansion valve drops the pressure and temperature of the liquid refrigerant, returning it to the cold, low-pressure state ready to absorb heat again in the evaporator.

Free heat pump exam questions

1. What does a heat pump do?

2. A heat pump works on the same principle as:

3. For every 1 unit of electricity used, a typical ASHP delivers:

4. Where does the 'extra' energy come from that makes heat pumps so efficient?

5. What is the main environmental benefit of heat pumps?

6. What is NOT a downside of an ASHP?

7. How many stages are in the vapour compression refrigeration cycle?

8. What are the four main components of a heat pump?

9. What happens in the EVAPORATOR?

10. What happens in the COMPRESSOR?

11. What happens in the CONDENSER?

12. What happens at the EXPANSION VALVE?

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