Small heat pump with automotive A/C compressor?

Piwoslaw · 04-06-10, 01:18 PM

How would one go about using an automotive A/C compressor as a small heat pump?
Just attach a motor and spin it at the right rpm?
How efficient would that setup be?
How much heat could it transfer?
Has it been done?

Since the driver usually notices when the A/C kicks in, it robs the engine of a good amount of power. 2kW? 10kW? Does this mean that if I couple it to a 2kW electric motor I can move 5kW of heat? I think that replacing the heat exchangers with larger ones should raise the efficiency (no space restrictions).

04-06-10, 01:18 PM	#1
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	Small heat pump with automotive A/C compressor? How would one go about using an automotive A/C compressor as a small heat pump? Just attach a motor and spin it at the right rpm? How efficient would that setup be? How much heat could it transfer? Has it been done? Since the driver usually notices when the A/C kicks in, it robs the engine of a good amount of power. 2kW? 10kW? Does this mean that if I couple it to a 2kW electric motor I can move 5kW of heat? I think that replacing the heat exchangers with larger ones should raise the efficiency (no space restrictions).