ASHRAE NB/PEI

SEPTEMBER 2011

VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW SYSTEMS

Technology Overview

Roger Nasrallah, ing. Enertrak inc.

VRFPresentationContents
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. WhatisVariableRefrigerantFlow? WhydoweuseVRFsystem? HowdoesVRFwork? VRFIndoor/OutdoorUnitsCapacityControl BenefitsofVRFCapacityControl DifferentVRFSystems DesignAroundDiversity ComparingVRFto ConventionalSystems

WhatisVariableRefrigerantFlow?
TheVariableSpeedTechnologyhasadvanced dramaticallyoverthepastyears. VAV:VariableAirVolume(Airhandlers) VFD:VariableFrequencyDrive(Pumps&Fans) VRF:VariableRefrigerantFlow VRV:VariableRefrigerantVolume

WhatisVariableRefrigerantFlow?
ASHRAE Journal April 2007
The term Variable Refrigerant Flow refers to the capability of a HVAC system to control the amount of refrigerant flowing to each of the indoor units/evaporators, enabling the use of multiple evaporators of differing capacities and configurations, individualized comfort control, simultaneous heating and cooling in different zones with heat recovery from one zone to another

AHRI Standards & Policy Committee June 2009

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System is an engineered direct expansion (DX) multi-split system incorporating at least one variable capacity compressor distributing refrigerant through a piping network to multiple indoor fan coil units each capable of individual zone temperature control, through a zone temperature control devices and common communications network. Variable refrigerant flow implies three or more steps of control on common, inter-connecting piping

What are VRF Multi Split units?

Direct expansion systems Variable capacity Compressor 1 Outdoor Unit

VRF Multi Split

Used to cool and heat buildings

Multiple indoor Units Individual control of indoor units Indoor unit capacity control

WhydoweuseVRFSystems?
DecentralizedSystem ZoneComfort Efficiency Payforwhatyouuse Flexible Simpletodesign Easytoinstallandcommission Goodvalue

HowdoesVRFwork?
Outdoor unit
Refrigeration Piping

Indoor Units

Control wiring

Controllers

HowdoesVRFwork?
Reversing Valve Outdoor Unit

Indoor Units

Outdoor Heat Exchanger Accumulator Compressor

Indoor Heat Exchangers

Inverter Inverter

LEV Linear Expansion Valve

100%CoolingDemand
Outdoor Unit Indoor units at 100% cooling demand

Condenser Low Level Refrigerant Compressor at High Speed

Indoor Units

Inverter Inverter

50%CoolingDemand
Outdoor Unit Indoor units at 50% cooling demand

Condenser High Level Refrigerant Compressor at Low Speed

Indoor Units

Inverter Inverter

IndoorUnitCapacityControl
Indoorunits individually controlled byLEV LEVhas2functions
Controlthesuperheat across indoorunit evaporator Acts assolenoid valvetostoprefrigerant flowto indoorunits that areoff

SmartIndoorCoilDesign
Ifsuperheatishigh thevalvewillopen

IfSuperheatislow thevalvewillclose

OutdoorUnitCapacityControl
Compressorspeediscontrolledby aVFDbasedoncommon saturatedsuctiontemperature andcapacityrequired Refrigerantvolumeflowisdirectly proportionaltothecompressor speed Powerinputisdirectly proportionaltothecubeofthe compressorspeed

Combined indoor and outdoor Capacity Control

Indoor Heat Load High all zones 1.) Superheat high 3.)Saturated suction temperature high
Indoor unit Heat Exchangers

5 .Refrigerant pumping volume high

Outdoor Heat Exchanger Compressor Accumulator

Zone Zone Zone Indoor B A C units

Linear Expansion Valve

Inverter Variable speed control

Control individual indoor unit capacity

Outdoor unit
4.) Compressor speed high

2.) LEV opening large

Combined indoor and outdoor Capacity Control

Indoor Heat Load : Zone A High Zone B Medium Zone C Zero 6.)Saturated suction temperature lowers
Indoor unit Heat Exchangers

3.) Superheat Lower 1.) Superheat high

8 .Refrigerant pumping volume lowers

Outdoor Heat Exchanger Compressor Accumulator

Zone Zone Zone Indoor B A C units

Linear Expansion Valve

Inverter Variable speed control

Control 2.) LEV opening largeindividual indoor unit capacity

Outdoor unit
7.) Compressor speed lower

4.) LEV opening medium 5.) LEV closed

VRFcontrolcomparedto conventionalsystems

ComfortableandEfficient Operationineachzone

ZONE Air Conditioning to meet individual requirement!! < Only 1 room >

DifferentVRFSystems
2PipeSystemcoolingonly 2PipeSystemheatpumpcoolingorheating 3PipeSystemsimultaneouscoolingand heating 2PipeSystemsimultaneouscoolingand heating aircooled 2PipeSystemsimultaneouscoolingand heating waterandgeothermalapplication

2PipeSystemcoolingonly

2PipeSystemcoolingorheating

2PipeSystemusingbranchjoints

2PipeSystemusingbranchheader

3Pipesimultaneouscoolandheat

1. - Suction Pipe 2. - Hot gas Pipe 3. - Liquid Pipe

Branch selector

2Pipesimultaneouscoolandheat Aircooled

Efficencyofsimultaneous heat/cool
Indoor units 100%

Cooling
100%

100% Outdoor units Efficiency

Heating
100%

Heat recovery

R2

BCBox

Cooling
100% 100%

Heating

< 50%

HeatRecovery 2Pipesystem

flash powerpoint rob.exe

2Pipesimultaneouscoolandheat Watersourceorgeothermalloop

2Pipeheatrecovery Watersourceorgeothermalloop

2PipeVS3Pipe simultaneouscoolandheat

DIVERSITY
1. Time of Day 2. Heating & Cooling 3. Occupancy

TimeofDay
N

3 Tons Afternoon Morning

5 Tons Afternoon Morning

TimeofDay
N

5 Tons Afternoon

5 Tons Morning

Both zones peak at 5 tons

Do we need 10 tons of cooling???

TimeofDay

5 Tons

3 Tons

3 Tons

5 Tons

Afternoon

Morning

With VRF, only 8 tons of cooling are required!!

Heating &Cooling
Typical Winter Loads

CHILLER, COOLING TOWER, & PUMPS

Heat

Heating &Cooling
Typical Winter Loads

Heat

CHILLER, COOLING TOWER, & PUMPS

$ $
BOILER & PUMPS Heat

Heating &Cooling
Typical Winter Loads

Heat

With

VRF Systems

Occupancy
Work Room 2 Tons Cubicle Area 2 6 Tons

Conference Room 0 4 Tons

8 Tons Total Cooling

DIVERSITY
1. Time of Day
VRF System can efficiently distribute cooling capacity to keep up with changing solar loads

2. Heating & Cooling

VRF System can heat and cool simultaneously

3. Occupancy
As people move throughout a building, VRF System can move energy around to maintain comfort levels within setpoint

10,000ft2 OfficeApplication

10,000ft2 OfficeApplication

VRF Indoor Unit Overview

1,2&4Way Cassette Ductedhorizontal Ductedvertical CeilingSuspended WallMounted FloorStanding Waterheating modules

ComparingVRFto ConventionalSystem
TotalSystemisstoppedduringnighttime Ifonepersonisworkingovertime,thecomplete systemmustoperate UnevenlyAirConditionedspace PossibilityofWaterPipeCorrosion MaintainWaterQuality LotsofPiping&Wiring LotsofSpaceRequiredforMachines TimeConsumingDesign

VRFSYSTEM

WaterCooledPackagedA/C

WaterCooledChiller&AHU

AirCooledChiller&FanCoilUnits

WaterChiller&AHU

OperationandComfort

OperationandComfort

ManagementandArchitecture

InitialCost

OperatingCost FullLoad

OperatingCost PartLoad

BenefitsofVRF
ForProperty Owners
Canbe adapted tomeet various applicationsin buildingsduetomultiplestyleandcapacity indoorunits Creates Added Valuetothebuildingdueto:
Comfort Levels (Space temperature controlled individually Operation only required inzonesused Powerconsumption can be reduced byupto30%

Provides advanced space efficiency at agood price

BenefitsofVRF
ForConsultants/Contractors /Installer
Easy todesign NoZoningconsiderations with heat recovery Shortdesignperiod compared Easy toinstall Noneed forexpensive controls Easy tomaintain Allsystemcomponentssupplied byonevendor

BenefitsofVRF
ForUsers
Canbe operated tosuitindividual needs Exacttemperature controlforeach office/zone Comfortable working space improves productivity.

QUESTIONS?