Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

An LG Electronics Presentation
by
Graham Hendra
Duration 1 hour
Great Company Great People

LG Electronics

Designing VRF Systems

Positioning of Outdoor Units

Airflow
Airflowaround
aroundthe
theoutdoor
outdoorunits
unitsisisaa
primary
primaryconcern.
concern.Reducing
Reducingairflow
airflow
greatly
greatlyreduces
reducesefficiency,
efficiency,and
and
therefore
thereforeincreases
increasesenergy
energy
consumption.
consumption.

Positioning of Outdoor Units

Positioning
Positioningnear
nearother
otherheat
heatsources
sources(such
(suchas
asother
otheroutdoor
outdoorunits)
units)can
canalso
also
have
haveaasimilar
similareffect
effect

Cooling EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)

w hat effec t OD temperature has on effic enc y
w hat effec t OD temperature has on effic enc y
130% c onnection cooling A RUN100LT2
130% c onnection cooling A RUN100LT2
6.50
6.50
6.00
6.00
5.50
5.50
5.00
5.00
4.50
4.50
4.00
4.00
3.50
3.50
20
20

22
22

24
24

26
26

28
28

30
30

32
32

34
34

36
36

38
38

40
40

Graph
Graphshowing
showingeffect
effectof
ofhigh
highoutdoor
outdoortemperature
temperatureon
oncooling
coolingefficiency.
efficiency.
Temperature
Temperatureincrease
increase==efficiency
efficiencydecrease!
decrease!

Heating COP (Co-Efficient of Performance)

w hat effec t OD temperature has on effic enc y
w hat effec t OD temperature has on effic enc y
130% c onnection Heating A RUN100L2
130% c onnection Heating A RUN100L2
6.00
6.00
5.50
5.50
5.00
5.00
4.50
4.50
4.00
4.00
3.50
3.50
3.00
3.00
2.50
2.50
-20
-20

- 15
- 15

-10
-10

-5
-5

10
10

15
15

Graph
Graphshowing
showingeffect
effectof
oflow
lowoutdoor
outdoortemperature
temperatureon
onheating
heatingefficiency.
efficiency.
Temperature
Temperaturedecrease
decrease==efficiency
efficiencydecrease!
decrease!

Heating Mode High Load

Outdoor temp 3 C

Indoor temp 23 C

30 bar, 50C

Comp

6 bar, -4C

Compression Ratio 5:1

Heating Mode Low Load

Outdoor temp 13 C

Indoor temp 23 C

30 bar, 50C

Comp

10 bar, 9C

Compression Ratio 3:1

Air Flow Restrictions

These
Theseexamples
examplesshow
showunits
unitsworking
workingat
atlow
lowefficiency
efficiencydue
dueto
topoor
pooroutdoor
outdoor
unit
unitpositioning.
positioning.This
Thistype
typeof
ofinstallation
installationcan
canincrease
increaseenergy
energyconsumption
consumptionby
by
as
asmuch
muchas
as30%.
30%.

Outdoor Units
Sizes
Sizes88to
to16
16Hp
Hp

1607mm

73
0m
m

1607mm

809mm

1280mm

73
0m
m

Sizes
Sizes55and
and66Hp
Hp

Three
Threephase,
phase,heat
heatpump
pumpand
andheat
heatrecovery.
recovery.

Outdoor Unit
Sizes
Sizes4,
4,55and
and66Hp
Hp

1380mm

950mm

33

m
0m

Single
Singlephase,
phase,heat
heatpump
pumponly.
only.

What to do when Outdoor Unit Visibility is an Issue

Where
Whereplanning
planningpermission
permissionand
andaesthetics
aestheticsare
areconcerns
concernsinnovative
innovativesolutions
solutions
must
be
used.
must be used.

Mounting
Mountingoutdoor
outdoorunits
unitsinside
insidecan
canbe
bedifficult
difficultunless
unlessthey
theyare
aredesigned
designedfor
for
this
thisapplication.
application.

And
Andwatch
watchout
outfor
forrecirculation
recirculationand
andinadequate
inadequateairflow
airflowbecause
becauseititwill
willcost
cost
you
money.
you money.

Internally Mounted VRF Outdoor Units:

*Available 2009

Size
Size10
10Hp
Hp

1790mm

750mm

m
5m
49

1790mm

Size
Size88Hp
Hp

65
0m
m

750mm

Three
Threephase,
phase,heat
heatpump
pumponly.
only.

Fan Design

Specially
Speciallydesigned,
designed,powerful
powerful
sirocco
fan
sirocco fan

Mount them Inside?

With
With120Pa
120PaE.S.P.
E.S.P.this
thisunit
unitcan
canbe
behidden
hiddeninside
insideaaplant
plantroom,
room,and
andexhaust
exhaust
air
airisisnot
notcompromised.
compromised.
Excellent
Excellentacoustic
acousticproperties
propertiesmean
meanthat
thatnoise
noiseinside
insidethe
thebuilding
buildingisis
minimised.
minimised.

No
Nothermal
thermalcarry
carryover
overfrom
fromone
onesystem
systemto
tothe
thenext.
next.

All
Allaccess
accessisisfrom
frominside
insidethe
thebuilding,
building,so
sono
nohealth
healthand
andsafety
safetyissues
issuesduring
during
service
and
maintenance.
service and maintenance.

Short
Shortpipe
piperuns
runspossible
possibleso
sooutdoor
outdoorunits
unitscan
canbe
beclose
closeto
tothe
theindoor
indoorunits.
units.

This building is one of four which have a total of 1750 LG Multi V Space
VRF systems, serving a total of 7000 indoor units. Can you spot the
outdoor units?
LG Multi V Space II: The ONLY VRF outdoor unit designed specifically for
indoor location

Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

Diversity

Capacity Reduction Explained

ItItisisgenerally
generallybelieved
believedthat
thatVRF
VRFsystems
systemswith
withmore
morethan
than100%
100%connection
connection
ratios,
ratios,will
willnot
notbe
beable
ableto
toadequately
adequatelyserve
serveall
allof
ofthe
theindoor
indoorunits
unitsififthey
theyare
are
all
allrunning
runningflat
flatout
out

This
Thisisisnot
nottrue
trueinincooling
coolingoperation,
operation,but
butis
istrue
trueininheating
heatingoperation.
operation.

Diversity
Capacity vs Connection Index
Capacity vs Connection Index
40
40
35
35

Capacit kW
Capacit kW

30
30
Cooling
Cooling
Heating
Heating

25
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
50
50

60
60

70
70

80
90
100
80
90
100
Connection Ratio
Connection Ratio

110
110

120
120

130
130

You
Youcan
cansee
seehere
herethat
thatthis
this10hp
10hpMulti
MultiVVIIIIsystem
systemcan
caneasily
easilycope
copewith
with
130%
connection
with
no
capacity
drop.
This
means
if
only
130% connection with no capacity drop. This means if only100%
100%
connection
connectionisisused
usedthe
thesystem
systemwill
willnever
neverrun
runflat
flatout.
out.

How does Diversity Affect Efficiency: Heating

the effect on COP of loading on the unit
the effect on COP of loading on the unit
at 0C OD and 21C indoor ARUN100LT2
at 0C OD and 21C indoor ARUN100LT2
4.10
4.10

4.05
4.05

4.00
4.00

3.95
3.95
50
50

60
60

70
70

80
80

90
90

100
100

110
110

120
120

130
130

AArelatively
relativelySmall
Smalleffect
effectininHeating
Heating

10

How does Diversity Affect Efficiency: Cooling

the effect on EER of loading on the unit
the effect on EER of loading on the unit
at 30db OD and 23w b 16 db indoor cooling ARUN100LT2
at 30db OD and 23w b 16 db indoor cooling ARUN100LT2

5.80
5.80
5.50
5.50
5.20
5.20
4.90
4.90
4.60
4.60
4.30
4.30
4.00
4.00
50
50

60
60

70
70

80
80

90
90

100
100

110
110

120
120

130
130

More
Morepronounced
pronouncedinincooling
coolingthis
thisisisbecause
becauseas
asthe
theload
loadrises
risesthe
therelative
relative
size
of
the
heat
exchanger
falls
pushing
the
heat
exchanger
temperature
size of the heat exchanger falls pushing the heat exchanger temperature
higher
highermaking
makingititless
lessefficient.
efficient.

So what can you do..?

IfIfyou
youwant
wantpure
pureenergy
energyefficiency
efficiencykeep
keepthe
theconnection
connectionratio
ratiolow,
low,BUT
BUTyou
you
also
alsohave
haveto
toask
askHow
Howoften
oftenwill
willall
allof
ofthe
thecapacity
capacitybe
berequired?.
required?.

Installing
Installinglarger
largeroutdoor
outdoorunits
unitsisisefficient,
efficient,but
butinitially
initiallymore
morecostly.
costly.

11

Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

Can we re-use the heat inside the building?

Problems with DX Systems.

InInsummer
summerall
allthe
theunwanted
unwantedheat
heatfrom
fromthe
thebuilding
buildingisisdiscarded
discardedoutside,
outside,and
and
ininwinter
we
have
to
bring
that
heat
back
in
again.
There
is
little
that
winter we have to bring that heat back in again. There is little thatwe
wecan
can
do
doabout
aboutthis,
this,however
howeverininSpring
Springand
andAutumn
Autumnwe
wemay
maybe
beable
ableto
torecycle
recycle
some
someof
ofthis
thiswaste
wasteheat..
heat..

12

Heat Pump at Midday in Spring

Heat
Heatrereclaimed
claimed
here
here

North
All Heating

Heat
Heat
rejected
rejected
here
here

All Cooling

IsIsthis
thissensible..?
sensible..?No,
No,but
butititwould
wouldmean
meancheaper
cheaperinstalled
installedcosts.
costs.

What are HR Boxes?

Using
Usingaa33pipe
pipesystem
systemwith
withHeat
HeatRecovery
Recoveryboxes,
boxes,heat
heatfrom
from11room
roomrequiring
requiring
cooling
coolingcan
canbe
bere-used
re-usedininanother
anotherroom
roomwhich
whichrequires
requiresheating.
heating.

HR
HRboxes
boxesare
areinstalled
installedbetween
betweenthe
theindoor
indoorunits
unitsand
andthe
theoutdoor
outdoorunit.
unit.

An
AnHR
HRBox
Boxisisused
usedto
tocontrol
controlthe
themodes
modes(Cooling
(Coolingor
orHeating)
Heating)of
ofall
allthe
theindoor
indoor
units
connected
to
it.
units connected to it.

13

Heat Recovery at Midday in Spring

Heat
Heat
rejected
rejected
here
here

Less
Lessoror
no
noheat
heat
rejection
rejection

North
All Heating

Heat
Heatrereclaimed
claimed
here
here

All Cooling

IsIsthis
thissensible..?
sensible..?Yes,
Yes,but
butititisismore
moreexpensive
expensiveto
toinstall
install
and
purchase.
and purchase.

Payback Time for Heat Recovery System

IfIfwe
weassume
assumeaa33pipe
pipesystem
systemruns
runs33%
33%inincooling
coolingand
and33%
33%ininheating,
heating,itithas
has
no
advantage
over
a
heat
pump
system,
as
it
has
to
pay
for
itself
no advantage over a heat pump system, as it has to pay for itselfininthe
thelast
last
33%
33%of
ofits
itsoperation.
operation.
AA30kW
30kWVRF
VRFsystem
systemininan
anoffice
officewith
withan
anarea
areaof
of250m
250mcosts
costs1500
1500per
peryear
year
to
torun.
run.500
500for
forcooling,
cooling,500
500for
forheating,
heating,and
and500
500for
forheat
heatrecovery.
recovery.
IfIfwe
weassume
assumethat
thatheat
heatrecovery
recoveryisisbeing
beingused
used100%
100%of
ofthe
thetime,
time,then
thenthe
therun
run
cost
costwill
willbe
bereduced
reducedby
byjust
just250
250per
peryear.
year.
The
Theinstalled
installedcost
costof
ofaaVRF
VRFsystem
systemisis125
125per
perm
mfor
for22pipe
pipesystem
systemand
and
155
155per
perm
mfor
for33pipe
pipesystem
systemSo
Soaa33pipe
pipesystem
systemcosts
costs7000
7000more
moreto
to
install.
install.

ItItwill
willtake
takethe
thesystem
system7000
7000250
250==28
28years
yearsto
topay
payback.
back.

14

Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

The effect of field piping lengths on indoor

unit capacity

Longer Field Piping

50m
15m

15

Pumping Losses
Rates
Ratesof
ofchange
changeinincooling
coolingcapacity:
capacity:

Although
Althoughhuge
hugepipe
pipelengths
lengthsare
arepossible,
possible,to
torealise
realisethe
theefficiency
efficiencyofofthe
the
indoor
indoorunits
unitsfalls
fallswith
withpipe
pipelength
lengthand
andwith
withlevel
leveldifference
differencebetween
betweenindoor
indoor
and
andoutdoor
outdoorunits
unitsaa150m
150mpipe
pipelength
lengthwill
willreduce
reducethe
theindoor
indoorunit
unitcapacity
capacityby
by
up
to
77%
of
rated.
up to 77% of rated.

Why Such Losses?

99bar
barhere
here
==7C
7C

Air
Airtemp
temp==23C
23Ctt==16
16C
C

10
10bar
barhere
here
==10C
10C

Air
Airtemp
temp==23C
23Ctt==13
13C
C

All
AllVRF
VRFindoor
indoorunits
unitsare
aresized
sizedand
andrated
ratedwith
with
7.5m
pipe
runs
(check
this
in
any
catalogue).
7.5m pipe runs (check this in any catalogue).
This
Thisisisdue
dueto
tono
nopressure
pressurelosses
lossesat
at7.5m.
7.5m.
8.5
8.5bar
bar
here
here==5C
5C

16

Pipe Size Increase to Increase Indoor Unit Efficiencies

Main Pipe Sizes

IfIfthe
thepipe
piperun
runfrom
fromthe
theoutdoor
outdoorunit
unit
to
the
furthest
indoor
unit
to the furthest indoor unitexceeds
exceeds
90m,
90m,you
youcan
canreduce
reducepressure
pressure
losses
lossesby
byincreasing
increasingthe
themain
mainpipe
pipe
sizes
as
per
this
table.
sizes as per this table.

The
Theeffect
effectwill
willbe
beto
tohalve
halvethe
the
pressure
pressurelosses
lossestherefore
thereforegiving
givingup
up
to
to10%
10%better
betterperformance.
performance.

Interestingly
Interestinglythis
thisisisalmost
almostnever
neverdone
done
on
onsite.
site.

Hp

Liquid

Gas

3/8

3/4

3/8

7/8

1/2

7/8

10

1/2

1 1/8

12-14

5/8

1 1/8

16

5/8

1 3/8

18-22

3/4

1 3/8

24

3/4

1 3/8

26-34

7/8

1 3/8

36-40

7/8

1 5/8

Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

Controls

17

Advantages of Using Controls to Save Energy

Controls
Controlsisisthe
thearea
areawhere
whereenormous
enormoussavings
savingscan
canbe
bemade
made

ItItisispossible
possibleto
tooperate
operatethe
thesystem
systemto
tolimit
limitthe
theminimum
minimumand
andmaximum
maximum
building
buildingtemperatures,
temperatures,protecting
protectingthe
thefabric
fabricof
ofthe
thebuilding
buildingat
atminimum
minimumcost.
cost.
Temperature
C),
Temperaturelimit
limitfunctions
functionscan
canbe
beset
seton
onaaunit
unitby
byunit
unitbasis
basis(i.e.
(i.e.20-23
20-23
C),
to
toprevent
preventunits
unitsbeing
beingrun
runat
atunreasonable
unreasonableset
setpoints.
points.

Time
Timeclocks
clockscan
canbe
beset
setwith
withaafinal
finalunit
unitoff
offtime,
time,to
toprevent
preventindoor
indoorunits
unitsfrom
from
running
runningall
allnight
night(if
(ifable
ableto
tobe
beoperated
operatedlocally).
locally).

Every
Everyindoor
indoorunit
unitcan
canbe
bemonitored
monitoredto
tosee
seehow
howmuch
muchenergy
energyitituses.
uses.

New Central Controller

AAsuite
suiteof
ofcontrols
controlsisisavailable
availablefrom
fromsimple
simplewall
wallcontrollers
controllersthrough
throughto
totouch
touch
screen
screencentral
centralcontrollers,
controllers,PC
PCbased
basedcontrollers,
controllers,and
andBMS
BMSinterface
interfaceoptions.
options.
When
Whenset-up
set-upwell,
well,these
thesecontrollers
controllerscan
canensure
ensurethat
thatthe
thesystems
systemsoperate
operate
efficiently
efficientlyand
andeffectively.
effectively.

18

Wet Systems and Ventilation

ItItisisquite
quitecommon
commonfor
forwet
wetsystems
systemsto
tobe
beinstalled
installedto
toheat
heatbuildings
buildingsand
andVRF
VRF
systems
installed
to
cool
them.
systems installed to cool them.
ItItisisessential
essentialthat
thatififthis
thisisisdone
donethe
thecontrols
controlsare
areinter-linked
inter-linkedto
tomake
makesure
surethe
the
systems
don't
fight
each
other.
systems don't fight each other.
Ventilation
Ventilationsystems
systemsare
aresimilar.
similar.They
Theyshould
shouldonly
onlyrun
runwhen
whenthe
thearea
areaisis
occupied,
and
again
they
should
be
inter-linked
to
the
VRF
controls.
occupied, and again they should be inter-linked to the VRF controls.
Both
Bothare
areeasily
easilyachieved
achievedbut
butrarely
rarelydone,
done,as
asdesigners
designersand
andinstallers
installersare
arenot
not
always
alwaysaware
awareof
ofthese
thesefunctions.
functions.

Heat Reclaim using Water Cooled VRF

Using
Usingwater
waterinstead
insteadof
ofAir
Airas
asthe
theheat
heattransfer
transfermedium
mediumititisispossible
possibleto
toeasily
easily
recapture
recaptureany
anywaste
wasteheat
heatavailable
availableand
andto
tomove
moveititaround
aroundthe
thebuilding
buildingeasily.
easily.

25C

Heat
Heat
input
input
20C

25C

Heat
Heat
rejection
rejection
30C

25C

Using
Usingaacommon
commonwater
waterloop,
loop,heat
heatfrom
fromone
one
part
partof
ofthe
thebuilding
buildingcan
canbe
bepumped
pumpedto
toanother
another
part
partwhere
whereititisisneeded.
needed.

19

Using Waste Heat Sources

Waste
WasteHeat:
Heat:
IfIfthe
theWater
Watercooled
cooledsystem
systemisisbeing
beinginstalled
installedinto
intoan
anarea
areawith
withany
anywaste
waste
heat
heatthis
thiscan
canbe
beharnessed
harnessedusing
usingheat
heatexchangers,
exchangers,for
forexample
examplewaste
wasteheat
heat
from
fromindustrial
industrialprocesses.
processes.

Ground
GroundSource:
Source:
Heat
can
Heat canbe
beextracted
extractedfrom
fromthe
theground,
ground,ififbore
boreholes
holesare
aresunk
sunkinto
intothe
the
ground
groundheat
heatcan
canbe
beremoved
removedusing
usingwater
wateras
asthe
theheat
heattransfer
transfermedium.
medium.
Permission
Permissionfrom
fromthe
theappropriate
appropriateauthorities
authoritieswill
willbe
berequired
requiredto
todo
dothis.
this.

Optimising VRF Design for Energy Efficiency

Designing VRF systems easily and efficiently.

20

software

Designing
DesigningVRF
VRFusing
usingfree
freesoftware
softwareisiseasy
easyinineither
eitheraagraphical
graphicalor
orCAD
CAD
format
but
format but

The
Thesoftware
softwarewill
willonly
onlytell
tellyou
youthe
thecapacity
capacityof
ofthe
theindoor
indoorunits
unitsonce
oncethe
the
system
systemhas
hasbeen
beendesigned.
designed.ItItwill
willnot
nottell
tellyou
youhow
howto
toincrease
increaseefficiency
efficiencyor
or
capacity.
capacity.You
Youhave
haveto
tobear
bearthis
thisininmind
mindat
atdesign
designstage.
stage.

Software CAD Screen Shot

CAD drawing showing icons of room load, indoor units,

outdoor unit, and Y-branches/headers

21

Software CAD Screen Shot

Designing VRF Systems Conclusion

Keep
Keepthe
thefield
fieldpiping
pipingas
asshort
shortas
aspossible.
possible.

Keep
Keepdiversity
diversity%
%down.
down.

Let
Letthe
theoutdoor
outdoorunits
unitsbreath.
breath.

Make
Makefull
fulluse
useof
ofthe
thesophisticated
sophisticatedcontrols
controlson
onoffer,
offer,and
andadvise
advisehow
howbest
bestto
to
set-up
and
use
these
up
on
site.
set-up and use these up on site.
Do
Doall
allof
ofthis,
this,and
andthe
thecustomer
customercould
couldreduce
reduceenergy
energyconsumption
consumption
considerably,
thus
reducing
their
energy
bills.
considerably, thus reducing their energy bills.

22

The End

Thanks for your attention.

Questions

Great Company Great People

45

LG Electronics

23