Measurement of the performance of domestic air-to-air heat pumps

A facility has been constructed in which heat pumps can be tested over the whole range of conditions under which they will be used. This is achieved by installing the heat pump in an insulated chamber provided with means of heating and humidification and by using its own energy extraction to provide cooling and dehumidification of the chamber. By using appropriate control systems the conditions inside the chamber may be set at any particular value within the working range of the heat pump required. The facility is described together with the instrumentation and attention is given to problems of measuring heat transport in air streams.