How is it possible to use only 1000 W to transfer 10,000 BTU/h?

[maudzked]

TL;DR

How can one machine only consume 3,600,000 joules of electrical energy to transfer 10,550,560 joules of heat energy without broke the laws of thermodynamics?

Hi,

I was reading a newspaper article on the energy efficiency of commonly used air conditioners in homes. Then a doubt arose when the article informed me that there are air conditioners that have an energy efficiency of 10 BTU/watt. That means a classic 10,000 BTU/h air conditioning machine will consume only 1,000 watt of electrical power during that amount of time.

Using joule as unit for both, this means that in 1 hour the machine will only consume 3,600,000 joules of electrical energy to transfer 10,550,560 joules of "heat energy" from my room to the outside.

I noticed that the machine is not creating heat from the electrical energy, but transferring the energy using electrical energy. But I am still in doubt about how is it possible. How can I get a zero-sum from that? How is this possible without violating the laws of thermodynamics?

Sorry for english mistakes and thank you for trying to help me to think about this question.

 

[hutchphd]

Yes it is possible. Please see
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/heatpump.htmlRemember the temperatures are always absolute (Kelvin or Rankin)

 

[russ_watters]

I was reading a newspaper article on the energy efficiency of commonly used air conditioners in homes. Then a doubt arose when the article informed me that there are air conditioners that have an energy efficiency of 10 BTU/watt. That means a classic 10,000 BTU/h air conditioning machine will consume only 1,000 watt of electrical power during that amount of time.

Using joule as unit for both, this means that in 1 hour the machine will only consume 3,600,000 joules of electrical energy to transfer 10,550,560 joules of "heat energy" from my room to the outside.

I noticed that the machine is not creating heat from the electrical energy, but transferring the energy using electrical energy. But I am still in doubt about how is it possible. How can I get a zero-sum from that? How is this possible without violating the laws of thermodynamics?

How much work does it take to pick up a bucket of water and move it 10m to your left? What if it is a bucket of ice - does it take more energy to move it? So is the energy required to move heat well connected to the amount of heat you are moving?