Heat pump

A method for exchanging heat in a heat pump system comprising the steps of:

• supplying pressurized water from a municipal water reservoir to a heat exchanger;
• passing the water through the heat exchanger;
• and
• returning the water to the municipal water reservoir without contamination or reduction in volume of the municipal water reservoir.

A heat pump system comprising:

• a fluid refrigerant compressor having an inlet and an outlet and including refrigerant fluid;
• first heat exchanger means;
• second heat exchanger means including fluid conduit means connecting said second heat exchanger means to a municipal water system such that water is supplied to said second heat exchanger means and returned directly to said municipal water system without contamination or reduction in volume;
• fluid conduit means for interconnecting said fluid refrigerant compressor and said first and second heat exchanger means in series relationship and for carrying said refrigerant fluid;
• flow control valve means interconnected between said municipal water system and said second heat exchanger means for controlling the amount of water flowing from said municipal water system to said second heat exchanger means, said flow control valve means being responsive to the pressure of said fluid refrigerant to automatically optimize the operating condition of the system;
• and
• preheat exchanger means interconnected between said municipal water system and said second heat exchanger means for preheating the water from said municipal water system.