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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Residential gas heat pumps: a developing technology

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5714627
GRI has selected three gas heat pump (GHP) concepts as the most promising for early commercialization and growth potential: dual-cycle absorption, reciprocating engine-driven, and rotary engine-driven. The near-term objective is to achieve market entry of an absorption GHP, an adsorption GHP, or an internal combustion (IC) engine-driven GHP in the early 1990s. If on-going RandD on free-piston Stirling engine technology is successful, a GHP based on the technology could also be available by 1995. Analysis of the residential market shows that the GHP can best compete in residences having a high heating load or in warm regions where the electric-to-gas price differential is especially high. The absorption type is best suited for high-heating-load regions while the IC engine-driven GHP is best suited for cooling-dominated regions. Major research issues for all GHP types continue to be initial-cost, high-performance, reliability, and long life.
Research Organization:
Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
OSTI ID:
5714627
Report Number(s):
PB-88-142187/XAB; GRI-87/0331
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English