Energy Academy
Level 2: System Deep Dives/Refrigeration & Heat Pump Systems
Level 217 lessons · 174 min

Refrigeration & Heat Pump Systems

How air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pumps work; thermodynamic cycles, efficiency, optimization.

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01Refrigeration Fundamentals

  1. ▶The Vapour-Compression CycleCompressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator, refrigerant flow.11 min
  2. ▶Pressure-Enthalpy Diagrams & Refrigerant PropertiesReading P-h diagrams, saturation, superheat, subcooling, refrigerant types.11 min
  3. ▶Superheat, Subcooling & System TuningWhy superheat and subcooling matter, measuring them, field adjustments.10 min
  4. ▶Refrigeration Fundamentals CheckQuiz on vapour-compression cycle, P-h diagrams, superheat/subcooling.5 min

02Heat Pump Cycles & Performance

  1. ▶Reverse Cycle (Heat Pump Mode)How heat pumps work in heating mode, evaporator outside, condenser inside.11 min
  2. ▶COP, SCOP & Seasonal PerformanceCoefficient of performance, seasonal variations, weather-dependent efficiency.10 min
  3. ▶Heating Modes: Heating, Defrost, Electric BackupHeating-only, heating + cooling (reversible), defrost cycles, auxiliary heating.10 min
  4. ▶Heat Pump CheckQuiz on heat pump cycles, COP, and heating modes.5 min

03System Types & Applications

  1. ▶Split Units & Multi-Split SystemsIndoor/outdoor splits, wall-mounted, multi-indoor, refrigerant piping.10 min
  2. ▶Water-Cooled & ChillersWater-cooled condensers, chiller types, cooling tower, water loop design.10 min
  3. ▶Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)Closed-loop borehole, open-loop groundwater, performance, installation.11 min
  4. ▶System Types CheckQuiz on split units, water-cooled, and ground-source heat pumps.5 min

04Optimization & Maintenance

  1. ▶Part-Load Efficiency & ControlHow cooling/heating demand varies, part-load COP, capacity control methods.10 min
  2. ▶Practical Efficiency ImprovementsRefrigerant charge optimization, cleaning, defrost cycles, setpoint tuning.10 min
  3. ▶Maintenance & Common FaultsRegular servicing, refrigerant leaks, superheat/subcooling errors, sensor drift.10 min
  4. ▶Optimization CheckQuiz on part-load efficiency, improvements, and maintenance.5 min

05Capstone Project

  1. ▶Capstone: Refrigeration & Heat Pump DiagnosticsHands-on: diagnose eight refrigeration and heat-pump call-outs — fouled condenser, low charge, setpoint, part-load, resistance-vs-heat-pump, flow temperature, free cooling and backup controls — then calculate, verify and prescribe the fix.30 min