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For K-12 Students · Heat Pump COP

Heat Pump COP for a rooftop solar array

Built for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework. Simulate a rooftop solar array live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for k-12 students?
Yes — this version of "Heat Pump COP for a rooftop solar array" is framed for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.