History and development of the heat pump

The history of heat pumps, particularly since 1834, the operation of heat pumps using water as a source of low-grade heat energy, air-to-air heat pumps, air-to-water, and ground-to-air heat pumps, and the applications of heat pumps for heating, cooling, and heat recovery in commercial, public, and residential building in Europe and the UK are discussed. It is concluded that successful heat pump installations are those which have had some type of diversification or thermal storage in the design, and that a renewed interest in heat pumps is evident. (LCL)