How does a heat pump resemble a refrigeration system?

A heat pump is a device that is capable of transferring heat energy from a source of heat to what is known as the heat sink. It also moves thermal energy in the opposite direction of a spontaneous heat transfer through heat absorption from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer space.

When a heat pump is being utilized for heating, it employs the same principle with that of the refrigeration cycle used by an air conditioner or a refrigerator, but in the opposite direction since it releases heat into a conditioned space rather than the surrounding environment. Moreover, heat pump resembles much as refrigeration since it has the same components with the latter except for the presence of a reverse valve.