What is the SCOP?
When it comes to heating a swimming pool efficiently and economically, heat pumps have become a popular option. Among the many features that contribute to their performance, the SCOP, or Seasonal Coefficient of Performance, plays a crucial role. In this article, we’ll explore in detail what the SCOP of a pool heat pump is, how it works and why it’s important to the energy efficiency of your pool heating system.
Understand the SCOP
The SCOP, or Seasonal Performance Coefficient, is a key indicator of the energy efficiency of a heat pump. It measures the overall performance of the heat pump over an entire season, from 15 May to 15 September. Unlike the COP (Coefficient of Performance), which measures efficiency at a specific time and in an ideal environment, the SCOP takes into account variations in outdoor temperature and the pump’s operating cycles over a longer period. It takes into account 5 reference outdoor temperature ranges: -10°C, -7°C, 0°C, +2°C, +12°C.
How the SCOP works
The SCOP of a swimming pool heat pump is calculated by taking several factors into account, the most important of which are :
- Outdoor temperature: The SCOP takes account of variations in outdoor temperature throughout the season. It is generally easier for a heat pump to operate efficiently in moderate temperature conditions.
- Pool temperature: This also takes into account the temperature at which the heat pump needs to heat the pool water. The greater the difference between the outside temperature and the desired pool temperature, the more the Coefficient of Seasonal Performance may be affected.
- System efficiency: The quality of the compressor and heat transfer system (evaporator and condenser) plays a major role in the overall performance of the heat pump and therefore in the SCOP.
Its importance
The SCOP is a crucial indicator for assessing the energy efficiency of a pool heat pump. The higher the SCOP, the greater the heat pump’s ability to produce heat using a minimum amount of electrical energy. This translates into significant energy savings over the long term, as well as a reduced environmental footprint. The SCOP is then presented in the form of a label indicating the appliance’s heating performance class from A to F. Polytropic has been working on this initiative within the FPP for a number of years, and plays a major role in the swimming pool market, notably through its participation in the creation of the European standard on the environmental performance efficiency of domestic swimming pools NF EN 17645.norme européenne sur l’efficience des performances environnementale des piscines domestiques NF EN 17645.
The SCOP of a pool heat pump is an essential element to understand when considering investing in a heating system for your pool. By taking into account factors such as outdoor temperature, pool temperature, operating cycles and system efficiency, the SCOP provides an overview of the heat pump’s energy performance over an entire season. By choosing a heat pump with a high SCOP, you can enjoy a comfortably heated pool while minimising your energy consumption.
