Heat pumps are energy-efficient systems that transfer heat from one place to another, effectively providing both heating and cooling to spaces. They operate on the principle of moving heat rather than generating it, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating and cooling methods.
Thermodynamic efficiency is a measure of how well a system converts energy from one form to another, relative to the maximum possible efficiency as dictated by the second law of thermodynamics. It is crucial for optimizing energy usage in systems such as engines, refrigerators, and power plants, where minimizing energy loss is essential for performance and sustainability.