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Vindsol > About Heat Pump > History Behind Heat Pump

History Behind Heat Pump

The theory of heat extraction using gas was founded in 1805 by Oliver Evans, with the first domestic fridge appearing around 1890. Heat pump is derived from there and is similar to air conditioner. With such a vast history, air source heat pump technology is a proven and reliable concept for hot water application.

The following gives a brief overview of the development of this technology to the reliable and efficient heating systems that are built by established companies such as Lämpöässä today.

The first heat pump as we know it today was built by Peter von Rittinger in 1856. He recognised the principle of the heat pump while conducting experiments on the use of water vapour’s latent heat for the evaporation of salt brine. As a result, in Austria the heat pump was used to dry salt in salt marshes.

Milestones

  • 1748

    William Cullen demonstrates artificial refrigeration.

  • 1834

    Jacob Perkins builds a practical refrigerator with diethyl ether

  • 1852

    Lord Kelvin describes the theory underlying heat pump

  • 1855 - 1857

    Peter von Rittinger develops and builds the first heat pump

  • 1983

    Lämpöässä build their first heat pump in Lapua, Finland

  • 1945

    John Summer builds a full-scale water source heat pump in Norwich

  • Today’s heat pump

    Today heat pumps are considered the most efficient and cost-effective heating in the market place. They are remarkably environmentally friendly, and they can drastically reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills. They offer an ideal way to heat your property and produce hot water whilst saving money and the earth’s precious resources.

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