Question

A carnot heat pump is used to heat a house. The outside temperature is -3ºC and the indoor temperature is 27ºC. If the heat loss from the house is 40kW, the power required to operate the heat pump is?

(a) 1kW

(b) 2kW

(c) 3kW

(d) 4kW

The question was posed to me during an online interview.

I would like to ask this question from Carnot Cycle topic in division Air Standard Cycles and their Analysis of IC Engine

Answer 1

Right option is (d) 4kW

Best explanation: COP(heat pump) = Heat loss/Work done = T1/(T1 – T2)

or,   40/ Work done = 273 + 27/27-(-3)

or,    Work done = 40 x 30/300 = 4kW.