Heat Pump Efficiency

1
Heat Pump Efficiency

• By Chislon Chow
• Objective To explore the validity of the claims
  of heat pumps

2
Heat Pump Efficiency Overview

• Ground source, air source heat pumps 2 to 3
  times more efficient
• Transfer of heat
• instead of creating

Tennessee Valley
3
Ratings of Efficiency

• EF (energy factor)
• Furnaces lt 1, HP gt 2
• COP (coefficient of performance)
• Furnaces lt 1, HP gt 2
• Non-standard
• SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)

4
Factors Affecting Efficiency

• Supplemental heat
• Cycling losses
• Defrost
• (air source)
• Buildings that need
• lots of hot water
• Steady need for AC
• Mild or cool climates

5
Findings

• Ratings not easily comparable with furnaces
• HP sometimes needs to create heat too
• Ground source
• Generally 2.5-4 times more efficient
• Air source HP efficiency depends on climate
• Can be up to 1.5 to 3 times more efficient

6
Sources

• http//energyoutlet.com/res/heatpump/
• http//energyoutlet.com/res/heatpump/efficiency.ht
  ml
• http//homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehe
  m/97/970710.html
• http//hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/
  heatpump.html
• http//tva.apogee.net/res/rehpeff.asp
• http//www.eere.energy.gov/femp/technologies/eep_e
  lectric_waterheaters.cfm
• http//www.energy.wsu.edu/ftp-ep/pubs/building/res
  /ht_pmp_water_htrs.pdf
• http//www.energyright.com/heatpump/dare2compare.h
  tm
• http//www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?cairsrc_heat.
  pr_as_heat_pumps
• http//www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?cairsrc_heat.
  pr_as_heat_pumps
• http//www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?cgeo_heat.pr_
  geo_heat_pumps
• http//www.flex.net/lonestar/hpumps.htm
• http//www.fsec.ucf.edu/bldg/pubs/pf362/
• http//www.ornl.gov/sci/btc/apps/hotwater.html
• http//www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/energy-
  savers/shoppingguide.html