PPolySim OS
Fluids & Energy Pack · Multi-Solver

Geothermal Heat Pump

Ground exchange & COP. This multi-solver chains 2 solvers into a single guided workflow — run each step in order and carry the result forward.

Workflow steps
  1. heat-pump
  2. thermal-resistance
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Heat Pump COPLive

Controls

Presets

A heat pump does not make heat — it moves it, so it can deliver several kilowatts of warmth per kilowatt of electricity. The coefficient of performance is that ratio, capped by the Carnot limit T_hot/(T_hot − T_cold). The colder it gets outside, the harder the pump works and the lower the COP — but even at freezing it beats a resistance heater several times over.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

COP7.74
Carnot max COP15.5
Heat per kW power7.7 kW
vs resistance heater7.7× better

Governing equation

Reading this result: At 2°C the pump delivers about 7.7 kW of heat per kW of electricity — roughly 7.7× a resistance heater — because it moves heat rather than making it.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

2

Thermal Resistance

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Composite Wall Heat TransferLive

Controls

Presets

Heat flows through a wall like current through resistors in series. Each layer's thermal resistance is its thickness over its conductivity; adding them gives the total R-value, and the heat flux is the temperature difference divided by it. Insulation, with very low conductivity, dominates the R-value — the steep temperature drop shows where it does its work.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Total R-value2.71 m²K/W
U-value0.37 W/m²K
Heat flux9.6 W/m²

Governing equation

Reading this result: The insulation layer carries the most thermal resistance, so the temperature falls most steeply across it. A total R-value of 2.71 m²K/W lets 9.6 W/m² flow for this 26°C difference.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Geothermal Heat Pump multi-solver?
Geothermal Heat Pump is a guided workflow that chains 2 individual PolySim solvers into one end-to-end analysis, piping each result into the next step.
Is it free to use?
Yes. Every step runs entirely in your browser using real numerics — no install, no account, no cloud cost. Custom or private solver packs are available as a paid service.