What is the coefficient of performance for heat pumps?

The coefficient of performance, or COP, measures the energy efficiency of heat pumps, refrigerators, and air conditioning systems. It is calculated as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work or energy required. Because these systems transfer existing heat rather than generating it from scratch, their COP typically exceeds 1, with most air conditioners achieving a COP between 3.5 and 5.

What we know

• The coefficient of performance is defined as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work or energy required. [1, 2]
• Most air conditioners have a coefficient of performance ranging from 3.5 to 5. [2]
• Heat pumps move heat rather than generating it, allowing them to move more heat than the work put in, so the COP usually exceeds 1. [2, 3]
• The COP depends heavily on operating conditions, particularly the absolute and relative temperatures between the thermal sink and system. [2]

Where to go next

• how it workedHow does a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle work?
• compared withHow do absorption refrigerators differ in efficiency?
• a case in pointHow do thermoelectric heat pumps operate using the Peltier effect?
• what followedWhat role do heat pumps play in climate change mitigation?
• the bigger pictureWhat is thermodynamic efficiency?
• an unexpected connectionWhy are thermoelectric heat pumps rarely used for home air conditioning?Solid-state thermoelectric devices can both heat and cool using electric current, yet they are rarely used for building air conditioning because their efficiency is too low and costs are too high compared to standard compressor systems.

Sources

• [1]coefficient of performance (Wikidata Q902090) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Coefficient of performance · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Heat pump · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Thermoelectric heat pump · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Heat pump and refrigeration cycle · CC BY-SA 4.0