US developments in gas heat pumps

By the end of the decade, the US gas industry hopes to develop gas-fired heat pumps for residential and commercial markets that would have (1) a reliability equal to that of a conventional gas, forced-air furnace, (2) a first cost within 25% of that of a combination forced-air furnace/electric air conditioner system, and (3) a payback period of less than 4 years. The three heat pump concepts currently under development are (1) an absorption heat pump for heating-cooling loads below 100,000 Btu/hr and 3 tons, (2) a Stirling-engine heat pump system for either residential or commercial applications, and (3) a heat pump with a gas-turbine prime mover for applications in the range of 150,000-200,000 Btu/hr and 10 tons.