Comparison of Energy Performance of Variable Refrigerant Flow Based Unitary Air Conditioner with Constant Volume Air Conditioner

By Anant Joshi

Objective: - To study and comparatively analyzes the performance of a Variable Refrigerant Flow based Unitary Air Conditioner with Constant Volume Air Conditioner using the field performance testing and simulation model.

Working of VRF based Unitary AC

Inverter AC Current
AC to DC conversion DC to 3 Phase DC Conversion

Reluctance DC Motor
Variable frequency controls the motor speed Swing compressor

Schematic view of the inverter principle (Source: Service Manual Daikin inverter pair)
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Swing Compressor

Video Animation of Working

5 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjzJqzKx2V0

Experimental Setup Description

Construction details: 1. Wall: 4 Single Brick wall with cement plaster 2. Window: 2mm clear glass with window blinds 3. Roof: Fiber cement pitched roof with 300slope 4. Falls ceiling (floor to ceiling height 9)

Details of Equipment
Non VRF AC
MODEL DESCRIPTION CAPACITY EER STAR RATING MOISTURE REMOVAL AIR CIRCULATION Lt/H m3/min 17.5 UNIT TR KW/KW (Indoor/Outdoor) 1.5 3.4 5 STAR
5016 5016

VRF AC
DESCRIPTION UNIT MODEL FTKD50FVM inverter pair 5.2 (1.5-5.9) 1.600 (450-2,300) 3.25

Capacity Rated (Min.-Max.) Power consumption Rated (Min. -Max.) COP Rated

kW W W/W

Air flow rate (H)

Fan speed Sound levels (H/L/SL) Dimensions (H x W x D) Machine weight Compressor Type Motor output Refrigerant charge (R.22)

M3/min (cfm)

16.8 (593)
5 sets, quiet and automatic 44/35/32 290x1050x238 12

OPERATING VOLTAGE
RUNNING CURRENT POWER INPUT

V
A W mm

230
6.8 1,530 290/1,050/238 12 595/785/300 38 45/35 15.88/6.35

dB (A) mm kg

DIMENSIONS/NET WEIGHT Kg HXWXD mm Kg NOISE LEVEL CONNECTION PIPE SIZE db mm

Hermetically sealed swing type W kg 1500 1.25

Sound levels (H/L)

Dimensions (H x W x D) Operation range Max. Piping length

dB (A)
mm
0CDB

47/44
735x825x300

GAS/LIQUID
CONNECTION METHOD MAX PIE LENGTH/HIGHT

Inch

5/8-1/4
FLARE

METER

30/15

30 20

Auxiliary Heating Equipment

Make and Model Heating Application Heat Settings Type Additional Features Thermal Cutoff Safety Device Carrying handle Castors Power Requirement Power Consumption (Watts) Voltage (Volts) 2000 230 Usha HC 423 Air inlet vents 3 (665W/1330W/2000W) Heat Convector 2- speed motor , Adjustable height , Night light indicator Yes Yes No

SIMULATION MODEL

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Performance Table of VRF AC

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Cooling Performance Curves

Cooling Capacity Ratio as a Function of Outdoor Drybulb and Indoor Wetbulb Temperature
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Source: Energy Plus Engineering Reference manual

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Cooling Performance Curves

15 Cooling Energy input Ratio as a Function of Outdoor Drybulb and Indoor Wetbulb Temperature

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Cooling Load profile of Zone VRF and Zone Non VRF AC in February and March

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Cooling Load profile of Zone VRF and Non VRF in April

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Cooling Load profile of Zone VRF and Non VRF in May

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Zone Avg Temp Profile of VRF and Non VRF AC throughout a Day

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Plot of hourly Variations of Energy Consumption and Outdoor Temperature

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Hourly Saving of VRF AC and hourly variations of Outdoor Temperature

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Hourly Variations of Electrical Load of both AC systems and Outdoor Temperature

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Daily Energy Saving of VRF AC with Mean, Max and Avg Outdoor Temperature

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Daily Energy Consumption with Mean, Max and Minimum outdoor Temperature

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Performance of AC systems at Low outdoor temperature

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Performance of AC systems at Low outdoor temperature

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Performance of both AC systems in moderate outdoor conditions

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CONCLUSIONS
VRF systems meet the zone set point without significant fluctuations in the zone temperature whereas in constant volume system fluctuations of 2 0C were observed. Energy savings up to 40% are measured in VRF system at moderate temperature conditions however at high temperature conditions VRF AC consume more power as compared to the constant volume AC. VRF AC only gives energy saving at part load conditions, therefore VRF technology must be used only where the AC runs most of the times at part load conditions. In VRF systems electric load only changes when heat load on the system changes and there is no cyclic fluctuation in electric load profile. Whereas in a constant volume system there is frequent variation in the electric demand load due to its ON OFF cycle operation.

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