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U.S. Department of Energy
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Estimated seasonal performance of a heat pump water heater including effects of climate and in-house location

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5459243

Both field and laboratory testing have shown that a heat pump water heater (HPWH) uses about half the energy for supplying domestic hot water as does an electric resistance water heater. The HPWH accomplishes this savings by extracting energy from its surroundings, boosting it with some electromechanical energy, and depositing the total energy in the water being heated. If the HPWH is located in the conditioned space of a residence, the energy extracted from the conditioned space must be replaced by the house heating system in the winter. During the cooling season, however, the HPWH will reduce the load on the house air conditioning system. This report presents the results of a computer study of the effect on the house heating and cooling system brought about by locating a HPWH in either the conditioned space of a house or in unconditioned spaces simulating garages and basements. The effect of climate on HPWH performance and an operating cost comparison of oil, gas, electric resistance, and electric heat pump water heaters are also presented.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5459243
Report Number(s):
ORNL/CON-81; ON: DE82010332
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English