The push for building electrification is a critical part of global decarbonization efforts, and air-source heat pumps are at the forefront of this transition, offering a viable alternative to traditional gas-powered furnaces and boilers. Historically, the heating capacity and performance of residential air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) have lagged in colder climates. Heat pumps can have trouble maintaining comfort levels as winter temperatures drop in colder regions of the country.
Recent advancements in compression technology are helping to close the cold climate comfort gap, enabling original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop next-generation heat pump systems that deliver reliable comfort, efficiency, and sustainability in all climates.
Addressing technological challenges
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Cold Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) Challenge to overcome residential heat pumps’ comfort and capacity limitations in cold ambient conditions. This initiative called on OEMs and component manufacturers to engineer solutions that meet DOE’s stringent performance standards. Participating manufacturers worked with national laboratories (e.g., Oak Ridge National Laboratory) to design, prototype, and validate heat pump capacities in field trials.
To meet the DOE CCHP challenge, OEMs needed to achieve 100% of the same capacity produced at 47 °F at a much lower temperature of 5 °F. Doing so would require variable-speed compression with enhanced vapor injection (EVI) technologies. Copeland partnered with leading OEMs to help them meet this challenge. Today, some of these OEM units are commercially available.
Meeting the DOE CCHP standard represents a new benchmark for heat pump performance, capacity, and efficiency — which may be a preferred option for homeowners in the coldest regions. However, a range of heat pump and modulating compressor technologies provide an optimal balance of comfort and affordability for other design conditions. Not only do they suit a variety of climates and end-user preferences, but they also meet industry-standard efficiency qualifications:
- Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) tier 1 and CEE advanced ratings
- Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR most efficient ratings.
These qualifications are determined by performance and efficiency ratings:
- Seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER2) — evaluate part-load efficiency in moderate conditions
- Energy efficiency rating (EER2) — measures efficiency at full-load conditions
- Heat pump seasonal performance factor (HSPF2) — rates the heating efficiency of a heat pump
Dual-fuel strategies help to ensure comfort
DOE’s CCHP Challenge proved that heat pump systems can provide comfort down to 5 °F. But what if temperatures fall below 5 °F, or if you install/operate a heat pump that produces capacity down to 20 °F?
Under these conditions, dual-fuel heat pumps have emerged as an interim step in the transition from gas- to electric-powered heating solutions. These systems combine an electric heat pump with a supplementary heat source, such as a gas-powered furnace or boiler or an electric-based backup heat source.
In this configuration, a heat pump provides year-round cooling and heating until the ambient temperature drops to the point where it can no longer produce the capacity needed to maintain consumer comfort levels. At that point, the supplemental heat source assumes the heating load.
Dual-fuel allows consumers to balance heat pump capabilities, cost, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Depending on regional energy prices, fuel prices and renewable energy contributions, a dual-fuel strategy may potentially offer the lowest GHG emissions and applied costs.
The role of compression in heat pumps
The choice of compression technology plays a crucial role for OEMs looking to meet these new performance standards. Copeland, a leader in heat pump innovation, has been at the forefront of modulating compressor advancements, helping OEMs develop highly efficient, cold-climate-capable heat pumps.
These compression options provide contractors and homeowners with various solutions that help them align their economic, sustainability, and comfort goals.
Two-stage scroll compressors enhance efficiency and comfort for residential dual-fuel and standard heat pumps across seasonal temperature variations. Copeland’s lower-GWP-optimized, two-stage scroll compressors dynamically shift between 67 and 100 percent capacity, optimizing energy consumption while ensuring consistent heating performance in all but the coldest climates.
Variable-speed compressors are designed for applications requiring a wider modulation range. Copeland’s YAV variable-speed scroll compressors adjust dynamically from 15 to 116 rotations per second (RPS), precisely matching heating and cooling demands. This capability reduces energy waste by avoiding frequent starts and stops, delivers efficient part-load operation, and boosts heating performance in cold climates by overspeeding the compressor when needed. Optimized for lower-GWP refrigerants, YAV compressors enable year-round efficiency and reliability in commercial heat pump systems.
Variable-speed, enhanced vapor injection (EVI) compressors are well-suited for the most demanding heat pump applications. The Copeland YAW variable-speed scroll compressor integrates both technologies to expand operating ranges, overspeed for high heating-to-cooling ratios, and inject sub-cooled vapor to maximize heating capacity and efficiency in extreme cold. In low-ambient heating conditions, the YAW compressor boosts capacity by up to 25 percent and efficiency by up to 10 percent, ensuring reliable comfort even in the coldest environments.
Copeland scroll two-stage and YAV compression platforms represent familiar technologies to contractors, while the YAW with EVI technology may be new to some. All come with the legendary Copeland reliability on which contractors can stake their reputations.
Enabling the future of heat pump technologies
As residential heat pump adoption increases, contractors should be prepared to recommend options that meet their customers’ preferences. Whether they’re seeking cost-effective solutions, more eco-friendly alternatives or the most advanced technologies, Copeland’s fixed and modulating compression platforms are enabling the development of best-fit heat pumps. By utilizing advanced compression technologies, Copeland is helping manufacturers bridge the comfort gap, meet sustainability goals, and bring high-performance heat pumps to market faster.
With over a century of compression expertise and ongoing investments in research and development (R&D), Copeland remains committed to driving heat pump advancements for residential applications. Visit our website to learn more about Copeland’s innovative heat pump compression solutions.
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