HVAC & Heat Pump Simulator
Set a thermostat and watch a heat pump cycle move heat in or out of a house.
Drag the thermostat dial to set the temperature you want. Watch the heat pump cycle switch on and off to hold the room at that temperature.
About the HVAC & Heat Pump Simulator
Free hvac & heat pump simulator. Set a thermostat and watch a heat pump cycle move heat in or out of a house. Drag, change the sliders and see the result live. No sign-up, works on phone and computer. Built for engineering, the hvac & heat pump simulator runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Set a thermostat and watch a heat pump cycle move heat in or out of a house. Use it to explore engineering ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the HVAC & Heat Pump Simulator
- Use the controls to change Outside temperature, Insulation quality, Thermostat setpoint. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as Heating, Cooling to switch modes or load an example.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Set the outside to −10 °C and compare insulation 2 and 9.
- Switch to cooling on a hot day.
- Watch the energy used in 60 seconds.
Key ideas you can learn
- A heat pump moves heat instead of making it.
- The refrigerant loop has a compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator.
- Better insulation reduces heat loss and running time.
- A thermostat switches the system on and off around the setpoint.
Where this is used in the real world
Homes, offices, data centres, refrigerators and electric cars use these cycles.
Who is this simulation for?
Engineering and technology students, makers, robotics clubs and teachers of design and technology. It gives a hands-on feel for how machines behave before you build a real one.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
How does an air conditioner work?
It pumps heat from inside to outside using a refrigerant that evaporates indoors and condenses outdoors.
Why does insulation save energy?
The house loses heat more slowly, so the heating runs less often.
Is the HVAC & Heat Pump Simulator free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the HVAC & Heat Pump Simulator work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.