空调（热泵）的季节效率通常取决于工作温度范围以及系统的循环响应。历史上，当试图估算季节性消费时，循环效应被忽略，并采用逐小时或天气箱法，或其他替代方案。ASHRAE 1980系统手册第43章明确概述了这些不同的替代方案。其中大多数通过依赖于外部天气的效率（在某些情况下，在非满载或设计条件下称为部分负载运行）在非设计条件下运行，但不一定考虑非设计条件- 启动时设备的瞬时响应。循环损耗是由于设备的瞬态响应导致其无法在启动后立即达到稳态效率。这些循环损耗也称为瞬态损耗。尽管目前颁布的试验程序能够清楚地证明循环（瞬态）响应对试验的影响，但尚未完全确认这些与实际现场安装的关系。在某些情况下，稳态效率的提高可能伴随着循环响应的降低。例如，冷凝盘管的尺寸将大幅增加。 这反过来可能导致较低的SEER（季节性能效比），至少由试验方法确定。问题是，在实际安装中，这是否会伴随季节性消费的增加。由于周期效应被足够长的开启时间掩盖，因此需要考虑的一个参数必须是设备安装时的实际占空比。文献（Murphy等人（1979年）、Goldschmidt等人（1980年）和Hart等人（1980年）对空调和热泵性能的现场数据进行了采集、分析和报告。根据这些数据，可以估计周期性响应与季节性表现的关系。 ARI赞助的关于预测SEER的测试方法的研究结果已通过ARI和DOE的报告公布（Thomas等人（1980）。这项研究将总共166个单元的工业测试结果（当时可用）制成表格。引文:俄亥俄州辛辛那提ASHRAE学报第87卷第2部分研讨会

The seasonal efficiency of air conditioners (heat pumps as well) generally depends on the range of operating temperatures as well as on the cyclic response of the system. Historically, when attempting to estimate seasonal consumption, the cyclic effects have been neglected and an hour-by-hour or a weather bin method, or some alternative scheme employed. Chapter 43 of ASHRAE 1980 Systems Handbook clearly outlines these various alternatives. Most of these account for operation at other than design conditions through an efficiency dependent on outside weather (referred to in some cases as part-load operation when at other than full load or design conditions) but do not necessarily account for the non-instantaneous response of the equipment upon start-up. The cyclic losses are due to the transient response of the equipment causing it not to reach steady state efficiencies immediately upon start-up. These cyclic losses are also referred to as transient losses.Although the test procedures as currently enacted are capable of clearly demonstrating the effects of cyclic (transient) response on the tests, it has not yet been fully confirmed to what extent these relate to actual field installations. In some instances improvement of steady state efficiency may be accompanied by degraded cyclic response. An example of such would be a substantial increase of the condensing coil size. This could, in turn, lead to a lower SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) at least as determined by the method of test. A question does arise as to whether or not this would be accompanied by an increase in seasonal consumption in an actual installation. As cyclic effects get masked with sufficiently long on-times, one parameter to be considered would have to be the actual duty cycle of the equipment as installed.Field data on the performance of an air conditioner and a heat pump have been taken, analyzed, and reported in the literature (Murphy et al (1979), Goldschmidt et al (1980) and Hart et al (1980). From these data the relationship of cyclic response to seasonal performance can be estimated.Results of an ARI sponsored study on the test method for predicting SEER have been made public through a report by both ARI and DOE (Thomas et al (1980). This study tabulated the results (available at that time) from industry testing on a total of 166 units.