Coefficient of performance

The coefficient of performance or COP (sometimes CP) of a heat pump is a ratio of heating or cooling provided to work required. Higher COPs equate to lower operating costs. The COP may exceed 1, because, instead of just converting work to heat (which, if 100% efficient, would be a COP of 1), it pumps additional heat from a heat source to where the heat is required. For complete systems, COP should include energy consumption of all auxiliaries. COP is highly dependent on operating conditions, especially absolute temperature and relative temperature between sink and system, and is often graphed or averaged against expected conditions.

Coefficient of performance

The coefficient of performance or COP (sometimes CP) of a heat pump is a ratio of heating or cooling provided to work required. Higher COPs equate to lower operating costs. The COP may exceed 1, because, instead of just converting work to heat (which, if 100% efficient, would be a COP of 1), it pumps additional heat from a heat source to where the heat is required. For complete systems, COP should include energy consumption of all auxiliaries. COP is highly dependent on operating conditions, especially absolute temperature and relative temperature between sink and system, and is often graphed or averaged against expected conditions.