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About this course

Heat pumps are a foundational technology in the plan to meet decarbonization targets. The market for heat pumps will double in the next five years. You should know how a heat pump works because they are going to impact your career.

Learning how they work is a great start. “Heat Pumps 101” is a new free course from John Siegenthaler. It takes less than an hour to complete. You’ll learn the very basics of heat pump technology, including heat transfer, refrigeration, and what applications are commonly used. At the end you’ll be able to speak intelligently about heat pumps and what they do.

Ready To Sign Up Today? Click Here to Enroll

Course outline

2 modules • 15 assignments • 1 hour to complete • 46 minutes of video lectures

Module 1 • 12 assignments
How Heat Pumps Work

  • John Siegenthaler's Introduction (01:46 minutes)
  • The difference between "energy" and "power" (07:04 minutes)
  • Thermodynamic basics (04:08 minutes)
  • Three modes of heat transfer (03:31 minutes)
  • Heat movement: "natural" vs. "artificial" processes (02:46 minutes)
  • Moving heat from lower to higher temperatures (how is that possible?!?) (06:42 minutes)
  • The four most common types of heat pump configurations (02:42 minutes)
  • Air-to-Air Heat Pumps (AAHP) (03:00 minutes)
  • Water-to-Air Heat Pumps (WAHP) (03:01 minutes)
  • Water-to-Water Heat Pumps (WWHP) (01:46 minutes)
  • Air-to-Water Heat Pumps (AWHP) (03:14 minutes)
  • Map of heat pump products and applications (07:05 minutes)
Conclusion • 3 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

  • Knowledge Check - Heat Pumps 101
  • Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
  • Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate (members only)

Author

  • John Siegenthaler

    P.E., Appropriate Designs
    View profile

    John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a mechanical engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a licensed professional engineer, and Professor Emeritus of Engineering Technology at Mohawk Valley Community College. “Siggy” has over 40 years of experience in designing modern hydronic systems. He is a hall-of-fame member of the Radiant Panel Association, and a... Learn more

Frequently asked questions

How does this course work?
This is a free course. Enroll today and get access to all of the materials instantly. This is a self-study, self-paced course and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll.
How long do I have access to the materials?
For free courses there is no guarantee for how long the course materials will be available.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Certificates of completion are only provided to HeatSpring Membership subscribers. This course has not been approved by any credentialing organizations (NABCEP, AIA, USGBC etc) for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). This course is for self education purposes only and completion does not indicate a level of professional expertise or credential.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, this is a free course so you can share this page with other people from your team.

Reviews

4.7
Based on 115 reviews
607
students have taken this course
05/29/2023

This class does a great job of assuming the student has no knowledge of heat pumps and imparting some of the basic concepts needed to understand heat pumps.

Bill Nowak
05/14/2024

Worth the time to break down the fundamentals of thermo-dynamics and heat pump technology. Great starting point.

Daniel O'Coin
02/28/2024

I encourage college students to give a look at the HVAC&R field, it's a very open market in US and it is really interesting.

Amr Abdelmoneim

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