Final answer:
Utilizing heat from outside air is accomplished through a heat pump, which transfers the heat to warm an interior space using a cycle involving an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion valve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heat from outside air is utilized through a heat pump, which draws energy by transferring heat from the cold outside air and using it to heat an interior space. A simple heat pump has four basic components:
- evaporator
- compressor
- condenser
- expansion valve
In the heating mode, heat transfer Qc occurs to the working fluid in the evaporator from the colder outdoor air, turning it into a gas. The electrically driven compressor increases the temperature and pressure of the gas, which is then forced into the condenser coils inside the heated space.
Because the temperature of the gas is higher than the temperature in the room, heat transfer from the gas to the room occurs as the gas condenses to a liquid. The working fluid is then cooled as it flows back through an expansion valve to the outdoor evaporator coils.