Unit 6
Balance point|The outdoor temperature at which the heating capacity of the heat pump is equal o the heat loss of the building. The balance point varies depending on the climate, building design, type of construction, and other factors that affect heat loss and gain.
Coefficient of Performance(COP)|The outdoor temperature at which the heating capacity of the heat pump is equal to the heat loss of the building. The balance point varies depending on the climate, building design, type of construction, and other factors that affect heat loss and gain.
Dual-fuel or hybrid system|A system in which a heat pump is combined with a furnace.
Ground-source or geothermal system|A system in which the outdoor coil is buried in the ground and the heat exchange occurs between the earth and the refrigerant flowing through the coil.
Heating Season Performance Factor(HSPF)|A heat pump performance rating that has been adjusted for seasonal operation. It is the total heating output of a heat pump (in Btus) during its normal annual usage period for heating divided by the total electric power input in watt-hours during the same period.
Reversing valve|A valve that changes the direction of refrigerant flow in a heat pump. Also referred to as a four-way valve.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER)|The standard developed by the ARI for measuring cooling efficiency. It is the total cooling production of a heat pump or cooling unit (in Btus) during its normal annual cooling period divided by the total electric input in watt-hours during the same period.