Reverse calculation of COP

[Low-Q]

Hi,

I wonder how you calculate the "inverse COP" of a heat exchanger. Say a heat exchanger has a COP 4 at 0 degrees C. Under that condition the heat exchanger consumes 1kW, and deliver 4kW heat.
So if you now turn it off, and instead heat one side and cool the other side with external heat source. I assume there will be a pressure difference between hot and cold, so the pump is forced to give - by start running. Is the COP of this running pump 1/4 or is it less or more?

How is the "inverse figures" for a COP 3, or 5 heat exchanger which under normal use consumes 1kW?

PS! This is not homework. I am too old for school ;-)

Br.

Vidar

 

[jvicens]

Hi Vidar,

Calculating the "inverse COP" of a heat exchanger involves determining the amount of energy required to operate the heat exchanger in a reverse direction, as you mentioned in your post. This is also known as the "coefficient of performance in reverse" or COPR.

To calculate the COPR, you would need to consider the energy input required to run the pump, as well as any losses in the system. In your example, if the heat exchanger has a COP of 4 at 0 degrees C, then the COPR would be 1/4 or 0.25. This means that for every 1kW of energy put into the heat exchanger, only 0.25kW of heat will be produced.

For a heat exchanger with a COP of 3 or 5, the COPR would be 1/3 or 0.33 and 1/5 or 0.2, respectively. This means that the higher the COP of the heat exchanger, the more efficient it is at producing heat.

It's important to note that the COPR may vary depending on the operating conditions and the efficiency of the heat exchanger. It's always best to consult the manufacturer's specifications for the most accurate COPR calculation.

I hope this helps answer your question. Let me know if you have any further inquiries.