Coefficient of Performance (COP) Calculator

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Actual COP uses measured heat and work values. Carnot COP is the theoretical maximum based on reservoir temperatures.
Refrigerators and air conditioners are rated by cooling COP (Qc/W). Heat pumps are rated by heating COP (Qh/W). The heating COP is always 1 greater than the cooling COP.
The heat extracted from the cold space (refrigerator interior, building interior for an AC, or the ground for a heat pump in heating mode).
kJ
The heat discharged to the hot side (room air for a refrigerator, outdoors for an AC, or the heated space for a heat pump). Must be greater than Qc; the difference is the work input.
kJ
COPGood performance
3

Coefficient of performance for the selected device type

COP (other device)4
Work input (W)4kJ
3
Very low<1.5Below avg1.5-2.5Good2.5-4Excellent4-6.5Carnot region6.5+

COP of 3.00 - good, within the typical range for efficient systems.

  • A COP of 3.00 means this refrigerator delivers 3.00 units of useful thermal energy for every 1 unit of electricity consumed.
  • If this same system were used as a heat pump it would have a heating COP of 4.00, which is always exactly 1 greater than the cooling COP.
  • Modern household refrigerators operate around COP 2-3; commercial refrigeration for frozen goods typically achieves COP 1.0-1.5.

Next stepTo improve COP, reduce the temperature difference between reservoirs: raise the evaporator temperature or lower the condenser temperature. Every 1 C reduction in the temperature lift improves COP by roughly 2-4% in typical vapor-compression systems.

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