An air conditioner is a heat pump… That just works in one direction. It uses refrigeration just the same.
They both rely on creating a thermal gradient between two heat exchangers. And they are both negatively affected by extreme temperature gaps.
The heat exchanger facing outside with a heat pump must be colder than ambient temperature by a reasonable margin. The opposite goes for an AC. These qualities break down in extreme ranges for typical hardware.
Heat pumps work at >100% thermal efficiency.
Air conditioners dont.
As a Californian, I’m also, hesitantly, with you.
An air conditioner is a heat pump… That just works in one direction. It uses refrigeration just the same.
They both rely on creating a thermal gradient between two heat exchangers. And they are both negatively affected by extreme temperature gaps.
The heat exchanger facing outside with a heat pump must be colder than ambient temperature by a reasonable margin. The opposite goes for an AC. These qualities break down in extreme ranges for typical hardware.
This also, as expected, reduces the efficiency.
Yes. Kinda the point.
Yeah extremes do suck.