| ABOUT | CATEGORIES | Worlds of David Darling | CONTACT |
 |
reversing valve
 |
A component of a heat pump that reverses the refrigerant's direction of flow, allowing the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating or heating to cooling. The reversing valve is a heat pump's sole way of switching between heating and cooling modes.
Although essential, reversing valves lower the efficiency of a heat pump for three main reasons:
- Heat transfer between the hot and cold gases flowing through the valve
- Pressure drops across the valve caused by bendsand sharp entrances and exits
- Refrigerant leakage from the high pressure sideto the low pressure side of the valve (throughclearance between the slider and seat)
Related category
• HEATING
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Science
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)