Heat pump basics · Cycles

Refrigeration & heat-pump cycle guide

Illustrated guide to refrigeration and heat-pump cycle families.

Selection map Fundamentals Part 2 Refrigerants

0 · Cycle families

Cycle family map

1 · Reverse Carnot

Reverse Carnot on T–s

Carnot versus real cycle

2 · Reverse Brayton

Reverse Brayton schematic

3 · Subcritical vapor compression

Basic VCC flow

Subcritical VCC on P–h

4 · Upgrades

Economizer cycle

Two-stage compression

Cascade cycle

5 · Transcritical CO₂

Transcritical CO₂ P–h

Mode	High-side behavior	Pressure class	Typical use

6 · Absorption

Absorption cycle

7 · Open steam / MVR

Open steam compression

8 · Selection map

Lift / situation	Typical cycle	Fluid hints	On this site

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