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The effect of location on the predicted performance of a heat pump water heater

Conference · · ASHRAE Trans.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6284888

Laboratory testing and field testing have shown that a heat pump water heater (HPWH) uses about half the electrical energy input that an electric resistance water heater does. However, since the HPWH extracts energy from the air in its environment, the question arises as to how this energy extraction would affect the house heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system if the HPWH were located in a conditioned space of a household. A second question concerns the savings obtained by locating the HPWH in an unconditioned space such as a garage or basement. The effect of locating the HPWH in the conditioned spaces of houses with a high-performance heat pump as well as resistance- gas- and oil-heated houses with a high performance electric air conditioner was studied. All calculations were made on a desktop computer. Weather bin data and inlet water temperatures for each city were used to calcuate the energy consumption for the house first with a resistance water heater, and then with a HPWH. The difference between these values was used to calculate the performance factor (PF) of the HPWH. The HPWH will add to the house heating load in winter and lessen the house cooling load in summer.

Research Organization:
Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
OSTI ID:
6284888
Report Number(s):
CONF-820112-
Journal Information:
ASHRAE Trans.; (United States), Journal Name: ASHRAE Trans.; (United States) Vol. 88; ISSN ASHTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English