Share

IIR document

How small could a "small" heat pump be? The relation between building and heat pump performance.

Author(s) : PAUL J., RIISAGER C., ARNARSON S. A.

Summary

The first and foremost duty of a heat pump is energy efficient heating of buildings with highest possible COP. However, heat pump and building are interacting and the simple call for "good COP" does not apply. Modern residential and commercial buildings must be equipped with a ventilation system to maintain at least an acceptable indoor air quality in air tight low-energy houses. A simple energy balance tells that heat pumps with a high COP need an excellently insulated building and badly insulated buildings need a heat pump with a low COP. This may seem somehow paradox but is a fact of the interference between the building energy demand and the heat pump. The findings of this case study are generally applicable and form some kind of "First Law for Heat Pumps", which reads in short: "Before considering a heat pump, first insulate the building very well!". Simple thermodynamic evidence calls for this undertaking.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: ICR07-E2-855

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    Free

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: How small could a "small" heat pump be? The relation between building and heat pump performance.
  • Record ID : 2007-2290
  • Languages: English
  • Source: ICR 2007. Refrigeration Creates the Future. Proceedings of the 22nd IIR International Congress of Refrigeration.
  • Publication date: 2007/08/21

Links


See other articles from the proceedings (839)
See the conference proceedings

Indexing