The cooling process involves
the extraction of heat energy from the air in the building,
and moving it into the earth. Transferring the heat from the
air in the building to the earth involves a cycle of
expansion, condensation, compression, condensation and
evaporation. A refrigerant is used as the heat transfer
medium.
The cooling cycle starts as
the compressor delivers refrigerant to the
water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. Heat from the refrigerant
is absorbed by (rejected into) the low temperature source
(earth loop fluid or well water) resulting in the refrigerant
turning cold. The cold refrigerant passes through a
refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger. As warm, humid air from the
return air duct system is passed over the cold air coil, the
air is cooled and dehumidified the returned into the building,
cooling the space.
The heat from the warm air
that returns to the unit is absorbed by the cold refrigerant,
turning the refrigerant into a hot gas. The hot refrigerant is
returned to the compressor where the process is repeated
continuously during the cooling process. A portion of the heat
returning to the compressor (from the hot return air) is
diverted to another refrigerant circuit that generates hot
water and delivers it to the water heater by way of a small
pump.
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