1. What is COP?

The Coefficient of Performance (COP) is a ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to work required. Higher COP values indicate more efficient heat pump systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the COP formula:

Where:

• Heat Output — Thermal energy output in kilowatts (kW)
• Energy Input — Electrical energy input in kilowatts (kW)

Explanation: The COP represents the efficiency of a heat pump system by comparing the amount of heat moved to the amount of energy consumed.

3. Importance of COP Calculation

Details: Calculating COP is essential for evaluating heat pump efficiency, comparing different systems, and optimizing energy consumption in heating and cooling applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter heat output and energy input values in kW. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good COP value for heat pumps?
A: Typical COP values range from 2.0 to 5.0. Higher values indicate better efficiency. Modern heat pumps often have COPs between 3.0-4.5.

Q2: How does COP differ from efficiency?
A: While efficiency is typically expressed as a percentage, COP is a ratio that can be greater than 1 since heat pumps move heat rather than generate it.

Q3: Does outdoor temperature affect COP?
A: Yes, COP typically decreases as outdoor temperatures drop because the heat pump must work harder to extract heat from colder air.

Q4: What's the difference between COP and EER?
A: COP is used for heating efficiency, while EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) is used for cooling efficiency. Both measure output energy divided by input energy.

Q5: Can COP be less than 1?
A: While theoretically possible in extremely inefficient systems, practical heat pump systems typically maintain COPs greater than 1 to be economically viable.