Development History Of Heat Pumps

In the early 19th century, French scientist Sadi Karnot first proposed the "Carnot cycle" theory in a paper in 1824, which became the origin of heat pump technology. In 1852, British scientist L. Kelvin proposed that a refrigeration device could be used for heating, and the reverse Carnot cycle could be used as a heat pump for heating. He was the first to propose a formal heat pump system, which was then called a "heat multiplier". Afterwards, many scientists and engineers conducted extensive research on heat pumps, which lasted for 80 years. In 1912, Zurich, Switzerland successfully installed a heat pump system using river water as a low-level heat source for heating. This was the early water source heat pump system and the world's first heat pump system. The heat pump industry experienced rapid development from the 1940s to the early 1950s, with household heat pumps and industrial building heat pumps entering the market, and heat pumps entering the early stages of development. Since the 1970s, the heat pump industry has entered a golden age, and countries around the world have attached great importance to the research work of heat pumps. For example, the International Energy Agency and the European Community have formulated large-scale heat pump development plans, and new technologies for heat pumps have emerged. The use of heat pumps is also constantly expanding, widely used in the fields of air conditioning and industry, playing a significant role in energy conservation and environmental protection. In the 21st century, with the emergence of the "energy crisis" and the sudden rise in fuel prices, improved and developed heat pumps have returned to the historical stage with their efficient recovery of low-temperature environmental heat energy, energy-saving and environmental protection characteristics, becoming the most valuable new energy technology currently available. The former International Thermal Energy Agency has established an International Heat Pump Center and a Heat Pump Program to promote and coordinate the application and development of heat pump technology to countries around the world. The governments of the United States, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and other countries have issued specialized official guidelines to promote the social application of heat pump technology. Compared to the development of world heat pumps, research on heat pumps in China started about 20-30 years later. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, with the arrival of a new wave of industrial construction, heat pump technology began to be introduced to China. After entering the 21st century, the rapid urbanization of China's coastal areas, the growth of per capita GDP, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo have driven the development of the Chinese air conditioning market, promoting the widespread application of heat pumps in China. The development of heat pumps is very rapid, and research on heat pump technology continues to innovate. Since the start of heat pumps in 2001, after 5 years of cultivation, the Chinese heat pump industry has shifted from an introduction period to a growth period. The rapid development of the heat pump industry is partly due to energy constraints, which have made the energy-saving advantages of heat pumps increasingly apparent. On the other hand, it is closely related to the participation of various forces to promote technological innovation in the industry.