Variable Refrigerant Flow Overview

Thomasena Philen Technical Trainer Daikin AC ( Americas), Inc. National Educators & Trainers Conference Las Vegas 2011

2005 Daikin AC

DX Refrigeration Cycle Cooling Mode

Low Pressure Liquid Warm air extracted and cool air introduced
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Heat exchanger

Heat

Low Pressure Vapour OUTDOOR Unit

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INDOOR Unit

DX Refrigeration Cycle Heating Mode

High Pressure Liquid

Heat exchanger

High Pressure Vapour

OUTDOOR Unit
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INDOOR Unit
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Cool air extracted and warm air introduced

Heat

Comfort Cooling & Heating

Developed as a measure for humidity control Overlaps process cooling in many applications Americans think Inside the Box 1930s Efficiency not an issue R-12 64.7 BTU/lb R-22 100.5 BTU/lb R-410A 116.8 BTU/lb
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Efficiency & Coil Size

Residential Market Push for more efficiency Green Building R-22 & High Efficiency Footprint & Technology

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2005 Daikin AC

Variable Air Volume/Zoning

Commercial VAV Residential Zoning Efficiency & End-user comfort generally applied to
the airside

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Compressor Multiple Step Control

Standard HVAC system
1 to 2 stages of capacity
Uses mechanical unloading techniques

VRV uses inverter technology

Electronic inverter varies compressor rotational speed in steps
Unloader Principle Multi-Step Control Principle

Load

50% 100% Compressor capacity

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Load
52~230Hz Applied frequency
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Design Conditions Peak Load

Block Load Diversity

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VRV-VRF What is VRF, History & Concept How it Operates VRF Benefits Efficiency & Capacity Performance Installation & Design Flexibility User Comfort Latest Technology The Future of VRF in North America

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Variable Refrigerant Flow

Also referred to as VRV Variable Refrigerant Volume VRV is a registered trademark
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What is VRF?

Background of Development of VRF 1973 Global oil crises 1979 New energy efficiency laws passes in
Japan 1980 Chiller design engineers challenged with making a higher efficiency chiller 1982 The worlds first VRF System is launched

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VRF Global History

VRF world firsts

Industry changing piping and defrost technology

Worlds first CO 2 VRF system is developed

VRF is launched globally

First globally available heat recovery VRF

Worlds first R410A VRF

1982

1987

1990

1991

1998

2003

2005

2007

2008

Worlds first VRF system is developed

Worlds inverter driven VRF Worlds first R407C VRF system is developed First water cooled VRF system is launch in the USA

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2005 Daikin AC

Where does a VRF system position?

VRF has the following attributes: Energy Efficient Tight Temperature Control Quiet Operation The Ability To Have Many Zones Large Capacity (Modular Build Up) Centralized Plant (long piping) Advanced BAS Control Premium Specification & Priced Product
VRF competes most naturally as a chiller. (this doesnt mean it can only compete with chillers)
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VRF Concept Multiple indoor units connected to one outdoor unit Up to 62 on a single refrigerant piping network Available in either air cooled or water cooled

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2005 Daikin AC

VRF Concept
Think of a VRF system as a chiller that circulates refrigerant to each
zone instead of water A heat pump system is equivalent to a 2 pipe chiller Major benefit is smaller heat/cool changeover zones due to the modular build up A heat recovery system is equivalent to a 4 pipe chiller system
Heat Pump

Heat recovery

6 Ton

6 Ton

12 Ton

Cooling

Cooling

Heating

Heating

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2005 Daikin AC

Inverter Technology
+V T(sec)

-V Frequency (Hz)

+V T(sec) -V Frequency (Hz)

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DC Inverter

Start with smooth inverter voltage output current wave

Rough wave

Smooth wave

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Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)

ulse mplitude odulation

I(A)

Vc

Standard rectifier circuit (without PAM) provides a smooth, steady voltage. However, under peak load conditions, efficiency is lost due to modulation of the current wave.

I(A)
SW Vc

Daikin rectifier circuit (with PAM) adds a coil and switching contact that cycles at 20 kHz. This creates an improved current wave resulting in 10% higher compressor efficiency than standard inverter systems.

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2005 Daikin AC

Inverter Benefits

High Efficiency in Part-Load conditions Capacity is adjusted as the load changes Low
Ambient control - Standard

Very low startup amperage

No locked rotor amps

No stress on windings or compressor frame

No light flicker Lubrication of bearings increases

before speed increase

System pressures increase gradually

reducing noise and stress on piping
Very consistent comfort levels

Quiet compressor startup

Better Dehumidification
Fewer start/stop cycles

As room temperature nears set point capacity is automatically throttled down

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Operation Cycle How it Looks

Non-Inverter Unit
122

Outdoor temp: 32F

Outlet Temp Room Temp

Set Temp: 73F

150

Temperature F

104 86 68 50 32 0 1 2 3 4

120
90

60

Compressor Freq.
Time [Hour]
5

30 0

122

Outlet Temp.

150 120

Temperature F

104 86

Room Temp.

90

68
50

60
30 0

Compressor Freq
32

Time [Hour] 5

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Frequency of compressor [Hz]

2005 Daikin AC

Inverter Unit

Frequency of compressor [Hz]

Additional Inverter Benefits

High outdoor ambient temperature

Electronic control of the compressor

Temperature sensors identify high temperature condition
Compressor speed is electronically reduced to limit high side
pressure and energy usage

Reduces energy usage during peak conditions Great heating performance Compressor increases speed during cold outdoor
ambient conditions
Generates higher head pressure, discharge gas temperatures
and discharge air temperatures

Achieves the same heat output as competitive systems

with electric booster heat without using the extra energy
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Neodymium

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Compressors
Digitally Commutated (DC) Motors in both Swing and Scroll

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Advanced VRF Controls

Individual Zone Controllers Multi-zone Controllers

Open Protocol Gateways

Adapter PCBs

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Why Refrigerant?
Heat Transfer Media
The commonly used methods of Heat Transfer in Air Conditioning Solutions each
exercise different operational characteristics regards adding or removing heat energy to a conditioned space as follows: -

Air
0.14 watts/lb

Water
2.6 watts/lb

Refrigerant

25 watts/lb
This diagram represents the Energy Transfer possible per lb of media due to the
performance characteristic of the fluid used.
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VAV

VWV

VRF

Comparable Chilled Water System

Multiple Manufacturers
Complicated installation

Cooling tower Pump

Top floor

Complicated maintenance

Water pipe

Building floors

And also FCU

AHU

EXP tank Valves

Machine Room

Boiler

Header
Blame Game When System Does Not Operate Correctly Slide 26

Chiller
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2005 Daikin AC

VRF Concept
One Manufacturer
Simple system Space-conscious design Top floor

Individual control

Building floors

Simple Installation
One Point Of Contact For Technical Support

Simple Operation Simple Maintenance

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Remote controllers
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Current Situation
All VRF Equipment is currently
sold under a waiver from the DOE No available testing and rating standard This means that only full load EER and COP can be published Advantage can not be taken of the true VRV system benefits: Part load performance Low ambient heating capabilities

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What is AHRI 1230?

AHRI 1230 is a testing and rating
standard specially designed for VRF type equipment.

This will allow us to show VRV

efficiency levels for:
Full Load Part Load Heat Recovery

We have been working on the VRF

testing and rating standard for the last 5 years
Now, the hard work has paid off
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2005 Daikin AC

Explanation of the Ratings

All efficiency values will be based on the total system

performance including: Outdoor unit power input Power input of indoor units Piping loss correction factors to reflect real life building performance With the new VRVIII we can now promote efficiency levels for Ducted, Ductless and Mixed combinations
Rating System Full Load EER System Full Load COP System Low Ambient COP (17F) IEER (Part Load Operation) SCH (Heat Recovery Mode) Daikin VRVIII PB Series Other VRF

? ? ? ? ?
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AHRI 1230 vs. DOE Waiver

AHRI 1230 does not replace the DOE wavier
DOE has to officially recognize AHRI 1230 before the waiver
becomes obsolete. This may happen as soon as January 2012

AHRI 1230 numbers can still be published because

they were cited in Daikins waiver application to the DOE

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2005 Daikin AC

Which products are covered?

Air Cooled & Water Cooled VRV
Systems from 65-300MBH can be
certified with an AHRI rating Systems above 300MBH can be rated to the standard but they are not part of the certification program Program was written before larger VRF
systems were available. Will be updated in the future

Systems under 65MBH such as VRV-S or

Multi or single splits are currently covered by AHRI 210/240.

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2005 Daikin AC

The Biggest VRF Design Mistakes

Positioning VRF as a big multi split

This is a chiller that circulates refrigerant instead of water Think of it as you would designing a VAV system This leads to a FCU in every room

Over 55% of VRF FCU sold world wide are ducted

FCU in every room

Ductless focus

The whole application must be VRF

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T2

System Capacity Control

T3

CPU
(PID Control)

T4

Controller

(TSET )

EACH INDOOR CONTROLS ITS CAPACITY VIA PID CONTROL AND AN E.E.V.

T1

INDEPENDENT BRAIN 4
LEGEND T1: Refrigerant Liquid Line Temp. T2: Refrigerant Suction Line Temp. T3: Return Air / Remote Sensor Temp. T4: Controller Temperature Sensor TSET: Controller Set Point Temp.

CONDENSING UNIT ADJUST THE INVERTER COMPRESSOR TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED CAPACITY (Large or Small)

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The Capacity Build-up

8 & 10 Ton Outdoor Units

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Air Cooled 3ph Outdoor Unit Range

H/P
H/R 12,14,16,18,20, 30 Ton
12 14 16

6,8,10,12*Ton
6 460 v 8 10

18

20

VRF
208/230 v

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2005 Daikin AC

Water Cooled Outdoor Unit Range

Geothermal Application With Limits

6 & 7 Ton
6 7

12,14Ton
12 14

18,21Ton
18

21

VRF-W

208/230V

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Air Cooled Single Phase Outdoor Unit Range

3 VRF

208/230V

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2005 Daikin AC

Capacity Range

Indoor Type

MBH
Tons

07

09

12

18

24

30

36

42

48

0.6

0.75

1.5

2.5

3.5

Vertical Air Handling

2x2
Ceiling Mounted Cassette Type

3x3

Ceiling Mounted Built-in Type

Concealed Ceiling Unit (Medium Static)

Slim Duct Concealed Ceiling Mounted

FXDQ-M

Floor Standing Type

Floor Standing Type (uncased)

Ceiling Suspended Type

Presentation Wall Mounted Type Title : Presenter Name : Date

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2005 Daikin AC

What About Efficiency? Typical energy consumption in office building

r Ai
dit ionin n o g C

47%

Other utilities 20%

Lighting 33%

How can VRF reduce energy costs?

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Partial Load System Performance Partial Load Performance (VRV) VRF

18.0 16.0 14.0 12.0
680

EER

10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 10%

595
510 425

75%
340 340

75% of total operation hours- less than 70% of full load

255

Operation Hours of Main Machine

170

85

20%

30%

40%

50%

Load

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

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2005 Daikin AC

Standard VRF Capacities at Low Ambient

60 57 54 51 47 44

AMBIENT TEMP (F)

39 35 30 26 22 19 17 15 13 9.5 5.5

108 108 108 108 108 108 108 106 102 97 93 91 88 86 84 80 76

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70% of Capacity at 5.5F

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But What About Efficiency?

Comparing a 6 Ton VRF Heat
Recovery outdoor only unit at Full load in heating @ 47F COP of 3.99 Full load heating at @ 5.5F COP of 2.76 Efficiency increases at part load
COP
3.99

4.0 2.70

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0 72 MBH Heat Recovery @ 47F 72 MBH Heat Recovery @ 5.5F

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2005 Daikin AC

Hotel 4 Pipe with Chiller vs. VRF

91,000 ft2 Hotel 4 Pipe System 80% Gas Boiler 200 ton Water Cooled Chiller 0.65 kW/ton Heat Recovery VRF (5) 16 ton (4) 20 ton $0.10/kWh electricity cost $1.30/therm natural gas cost
Annual Energy Cost New York Atlanta Phoenix St. Louis $ $ $ $ Conventional 132,608 124,297 117,413 134,985 $ $ $ $ VRV III 93,014 90,366 89,270 95,492 Savings $ 39,594 $ 33,931 $ 28,143 $ 39,493
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30% 27% 24% 29%

2005 Daikin AC

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Office Rooftop VAV vs. VRF

11,000 ft2 Office Rooftop Packaged VAV 30 ton - 9.5 EER w/economizer & hot water reheat terminal boxes Heat Recovery VRF (1) 12 ton (2) 8 ton $0.10/kWh electricity cost $1.30/therm natural gas cost
Annual Energy Cost Conventional VRV III Savings

New York
Atlanta Phoenix

$
$ $

9,796
9,562 10,216

$
$ $

7,138
7,274 7,789

$
$ $

2,658
2,288 2,427

27%
24% 24%

St. Louis

10,323

7,528

2,795
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27%
2005 Daikin AC

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VRF Piping Flexibility

Top

Actual piping length

(liquid line)

492 ft (540ft)
165 ft (295ft)

130 ft (295ft)
50 ft

Total Piping length 1,000 ft (3280ft)

No oil traps Sight Glasses

Driers
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Eldorado Business Tower

In a High-rise office building

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2005 Daikin AC

Building Profile
Location : Sao Paul BZ. Office building Height : 33F + B3 Total Floor area : 728,178 ft2 Typical floor area: 17,222 ft2 Completion : 2007

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Location of CDU

217 ft 384 ft

167 ft

How to overcome higher level difference

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2005 Daikin AC

CDU on Upper Roof

217 ft

1454 Tons

167 ft

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CDU on Lower Roof

217 ft

1259 Tons
167 ft

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Simple Pre-Engineered Piping Installation

Standard refrigerant balancing joint and header

JOINT

HEADER

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Design Flexibility
Wide range of indoor capacity to fit to your room Ducted and Ductless

0.6 Ton
Room 1

Room 2 8 Ton

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2005 Daikin AC

Design Flexibility-Indoor Installation

It is suitable for putting an outdoor unit on each floor or in mechanical rooms
Duct Window Exhaust duct

Louver

Suction louver

Exhaust duct

Suction

Up to 0.32 W.G
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Flexible Installation
Floor by floor installation
and commissioning Ideal for new construction or renovation projects Time and cost saving

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2005 Daikin AC

Easy Installation
They fit in the elevator

SMALL FOOTPRINT

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Individual Operation
Ideal for Random Occupancy

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Heat Transfer Media - Installation

30-Ton Refrigerant Pipework
6-Ton Ductwork

VRF meets VAV

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Simple, Easy, Flexible Wiring Installation

A simple 2 wire daisy chain communication system 16-18 gauge AWG
Not polarity sensitive Up to 6560ft of total system wiring Longest length up to 3280ft Auto Addressing Cost savings at installation Cost savings at commissioning

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2005 Daikin AC

Low Operating Sound Levels

Ductless operating sound levels as low as 27dB(A) Ducted operating sound levels as low as 29dB(A)

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Users Comfort Easy Maintenance & Repair

Self-Diagnostics Should an error occur, a fault code is displayed Up to 66 Alphanumeric malfunction codes Each code relates to an indoor, outdoor or system fault Automatic storage of data for improved repair response
time
Automatic operation data storage of the last 3 minutes just before the malfunction
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Malfunction

Operating

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2005 Daikin AC

Compressor Back Up Operation

Trouble
Trouble Operation
INV INV

Alarm

Activated by remote control or field setting

Operation
INV INV

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2005 Daikin AC

Oil Recovery The Oil separator recovers up to

95% of the migrating oil Logic checks the integrated amount of oil leaving the compressor Automatic oil return starts after 2 hours working after cold start Duration of up to 6 minutes. Every 8 hours of accumulated operation
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Centrifugal oil separator

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2005 Daikin AC

Defrost Operation
Each outdoor completes defrost operation individually, in doing so heating operation continues at each indoor unit. (Manifolded system example)
Liquid pipe High/Low Pressure Gas Pipe
Suction gas type

BS unit

Defrost Defrost Heating Heating Heating Heating

LL
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LL

LL
Slide 65

LL
2005 Daikin AC

ASHRAE HQ Renovation Success Story

28 tons of VRF heat recovery & 4
tons of single phase VRF were installed into the first floor office space and learning center In addition to this 5 tons of Inverter Driven Splits were installed in the data room The VRF systems helped ASHRAE in achieving LEED Platinum
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Slide 66 2005 Daikin AC

Worlds First CO2 VRF

This last year, the worlds first CO2 based VRF System
was released for sale in Europe One of the most environmentally friendly refrigerants with a GWP of 1 New Technologies New optimized swing compressor to handle the higher pressures and reduce leakage Dual stage intercooler to help control the refrigerant and reduce pipe dimensions New 3 row heat exchanger and pass pattern for optimum heat transfer

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2005 Daikin AC

Conclusion VRF provides and alternative, realistic choice to

traditional central systems. It captures many of the features of chilled water systems, while incorporating the simplicity of DX systems. Allows for the correct equipment selection with both air cooled and water cooled equipment It brings some of the latest technology to the market and provides a higher degree of reliability, comfort and energy efficiency that is expected from today's consumer.
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Thank You
Any Questions?

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2005 Daikin AC