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ABSTRACT
Considerable technological advancement in domestic air conditioner (AC) designs over the past few decades has seen recent
developments in variable-speed compressor (inverter) operation. Current test standards allow inverter AC (IAC) manufacturers
to lock the compressor speed for a desired rated capacity. However, it is proposed that rating the inverter under locked mode
is unrealistic, as it does not reflect the way inverters operate in real operation.
In this study, an unlocked mode test method is discussed for testing IAC for field behaviour, and the results are compared
to locked laboratory performance. For almost all inverter units tested, efficiency degradation was recorded in unlocked modes
compared to when tested in locked mode for similar output capacity. It is suggested a new test method be considered for IAC unit
performance in unlocked mode offering an alternative and more realistic field behaviour assessment.
KEY WORDS
Air conditioner, test standard, calorimeter, inverter, performance, locked, unlocked
COMPRESSOR OFF
COMPRESSOR COMPRESSOR
INLET OUTLET
COMPRESSOR CONDENSER SET
SUCTON LINE DISCHARGE LINE TEMP.
CONDENSER FAN
WARM AIR
OUT COOLS A ROOM IN COMPRESSOR OFF
AMBIENT (OUTSIDE) AIR LESS TIME SMALL TEMP.
DIFFERENCE
IN
START TIME
DURING COOLING
INVERTER TYPE OPERATION
WARM RETURN AIR LIQUID LINE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE NON-INVERTER TYPE
IN TEMPERATURE TOO HOT TOO COLD
COOL
SUPPLY AIR REFRIGERANT FLOW Figure 2: Illustration of IAC operation,
OUT EVAPORATOR BLOWER courtesy: www.daikin.com.au
EVAPORATOR METERING DEVICE DRIER IAC manufacturers claim that IACs are more powerful and
energy-efficient, and provide uninterrupted comfort, significant
Figure 1: AC operation principle, courtesy: savings on running costs, and are also quieter compared to the
www.air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-guide.com fixed-speed unit operation.
A typical refrigeration cycle uses an electric motor to drive IAC and MEPS
a compressor. The two most common types of compressors are
the fixed-speed type and the variable-speed (inverter) type. ACs sold in Australia must be tested to Australian New Zealand
With conventional fixed-speed air conditioners, the compressor test standard AS/NZS 3823, comply with the Minimum
Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and be registered
is either on (working to 100% capacity) or off.
in a government database1. The Greenhouse and Energy
An inverter in an air conditioner is used to vary the compressor Minimum Standards determination (GEMS1) regulates
motor speed in order to drive variable refrigerant flow in an air vapour compression-type appliances (ACs and heat pumps).
44 E CO L I B R I U M A P R I L 2 0 1 4
FORUM
LOSSES
LOSSES
OUT SIDE ROOM SIDE
The calorimeter provides a method for determining the
capacity of an AC simultaneously on both the indoor side
and the outdoor side.
Figure 4: Cooling test power balance.
ZONE 3 ZONE 4
2 ZONE 1 ZONE 2
2 1
1 AIR CONDITIONER
HEAT FLOW
COIL REMOVAL COIL REMOVAL
4
3
LOSSES
LOSSES
OUT SIDE ROOM SIDE
3 Air sampler 4 Typical split, non-ducted air-conditioner with connected refrigerant piping Figure 5: Heating test power balance.
A P R I L 2 0 1 4 E CO L I B R I U M 45
FORUM
The mycoolingtower.com.au website has been developed by AIRAH as part of a collaboration between industry groups, water corporations
46 E CO L I B R I U M A P R I L 2 0 1 4
and the Victorian government providing best practice information and tools to help businesses operate cooling towers water and energy efficiently.
FORUM
1000
The Annual Energy Efficiency Ratios (AEER) or Annual Coefficient 60
Power (Watts)
800
of Performance (ACOP) was calculated from measured capacity 50
and electrical energy consumption including the non-operating 40 600
power. MEPS compliance in accordance with AS/NZS 3823 was 30
400
evaluated from the calculated AEER and ACOP values. 20
200
10
0 0
Cooling capacity Registered Lab test Field test 8:52 a 9:07 a 9:21 a 9:36 a 9:50 a 10:04 a 10:19 a 10:33 a 10:48 a
T1 test-rated load value locked unlocked Indoor Drybulb Outdoor Drybulb
Time
Indoor RH Outdoor RH Unit power input
Cooling capacity (kW) 410 - 6.7% - 0.1%
Figure7: IAC-3 cooling: rated-load unlocked mode
Power input (kW) >2 + 3.7% + 25.4%
AEER (kW/kW) >3 - 10.0% - 20.3%
Compliance to MEPS PASS FAIL FAIL
A final 21C remote setting produced 26.7C of room
Table 2: IAC-1 cooling: laboratory vs field behaviour. air-on temperature (27C is required, see Table 1, T1).
A P R I L 2 0 1 4 E CO L I B R I U M 47
FORUM
COOLING Test T1 Conditions - Part-load Unlocked Mode a matching load) and the corresponding efficiency under
Indoor & Outdoor Temperature, Relative Humidity and Power Input
100 350
simulated field conditions were measured.
90
300 Some IAC units have produced fluctuating behaviour in
80 unlocked tests, but they ran with a very stable power input,
250
70 and provided stable room conditions under locked mode
Temperature (C) and RH (%)
60 200 operation.
Power (Watts)
50
40
150 In general, IAC units used much higher electric power than
30 100
the rated or locked value when subjected to a thermal
20 load equivalent to the rated capacities under field behavior.
50 Some units also failed to meet MEPS under unlocked mode
10
0 0 operation.
2:52 p 3:21 p 3:50 p 4:19 p 4:48 p 5:16 p Time
5
Indoor Drybulb Outdoor Drybulb Indoor RH Outdoor RH Unit power input
4.5 50% of
Rated-load Inverter Efficiency Locked
Figure 8: IAC-3 cooling: part-load unlocked mode.
Efficiency (kW/kW)
Inverter Efficiency Unlocked
A final 26C remote setting produced 27.4C of room air-on 4.0
temperature (27C is required, see Table 1, T1).
3.5 Rated-load
HEATING Test H1 Conditions Unlocked Mode
Indoor & Outdoor Temperature, Relative Humidity and Power Input
100 1400 3.0 Full-load
90
1200 Part-load
80 2.5
1000
Temperature (C) and RH (%)
70
60 800 2
Power (Watts)
Figure 9: IAC-3 heating: full-load unlocked mode. When the compressors were varying their speed repeatedly
at a certain interval, energy consumption is high compared
A final 23C remote setting produced 20C of room air-on to the locked mode operation. In some inverters, inefficient
temperature (20C is required, see Table 1, H1). and faulty hot-gas bypass controls may have resulted in lower
HEATING Test H1 Conditions Part-load Unlocked Mode efficiencies in field behaviour.
Indoor & Outdoor Temperature, Relative Humidity and Power Input
100 800 Thus, the efficiencies of the IACs will fit to a lower curve relative
90 to the locked mode condition.
700
80
600 Advantages of proposed test method
Temperature (C) and RH (%)
70
500
60 There are distinct advantages to the proposed unlocked
Power (Watts)
A final 18C remote setting produced 19.9C of room air-on Field performance can be obtained for any suitable thermal
temperature (20C is required, see Table 1, H1). load and corresponding unit behaviour (power input and
efficiency) in meeting that load.
DISCUSSION Use of any circumvention device in the air
conditioner system can be more easily identified.
Tested cooling or heating capacity, within 1% of registered
(or desired) values was obtained during the unlocked tests. Rating will show performance in field
IAC power input (which was responded by the unit to obtain conditions, which will greatly benefit consumers.
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CONCLUSIONS
There has been significant technological
advancement in domestic AC designs
over the past few decades, such as variable
speed compressor operation. Current
test standards allow IAC manufacturers
to fix the compressor speed for a certain
rated capacity. However, we believe
rating the inverter under locked method
is unrealistic, as it does not reflect the way
inverters operate in real life.
About the Author
In this study, the IAC unlocked field
testing method was discussed. Vipac Dr Satya Mavuri, M.AIRAH, is a senior
testing and numerical modelling
testing shows that IAC units under engineer at Vipac. His role includes
unlocked conditions used much higher testing, design and development of
457
electric power than the rated values air conditioners, heat pump hot water
when subjected to a similar thermal load systems, heat exchangers, numerical Meet us at Stand
modelling and R&D consulting for a
equivalent to the rated or locked range of thermodynamic systems.
capacities. Some units failed to meet
MEPS under the new proposed test Satya has had more than 12 technical
papers published in journals and for
methodology. conferences.
Using proposed unlocked test method, Email: satyam@vipac.com.au
IAC units can now be tested for field
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