VSD

Variable-Speed Drive

reduce
energy costs
longer
equipment life
lower
noise level
lesser
inrush current

YORK Variable-Speed Drive Retrofit

Cooling a building is not a constant process. The Sun rises and sets. Tenants arrive in the morning and leave in the evening. Summer is
off-set by winter. But do your energy bills fully reflect these variations? They will if you fit a YORK VSD chiller drive.
YORKs variable-speed drive can cut chiller energy consumption by 30% or more because no constant-speed chiller, not even a high
efficiency model can match the performance of a VSD drive under the real-world plant room operating conditions.
The YORK VSD variable-speed drive was specifically developed for commercial airconditioning applications, delivering optimum efficiency
for virtually any operating condition.

Bringing Value to You:

Superior energy efficiency

cuts energy cost, fast payback

Adaptive Capacity Control Logic

stable surge-free operation, maximizes energy savings

Automatically corrects power factor

Soft start
lesser inrush current, better electrical protection,
reduces driveline wear

Low speed operation

runs quieter

Direct linkage to control panel

convenient monitoring and control

Single-source responsibility
designed, built, installed and serviced by YORK

Saving Energy and Increasing Reliability

Payback Under 3 Years
A typical chiller plant works at less than

variable speed drive can match.

capacitors to overcome this problem. This

is an expensive exercise.

its designed maximum performance levels

The chiller plant is often the biggest
nearly 99% of the time. By optimizing
energy user in a building and many

Chillers fitted with a YORK VSD drive

electricity companies penalize building

and optional filter can correct the power

owners for having a low power factor. In

factor which could do without additional

some installations that use constant-

capacitor. The optional filter also meets

speed chillers, building owners are forced

the guidelines of IEEE519-92 for total

to install additional power factor correction

harmonic distortion.

chiller operation a YORK VSD drive

accrues energy savings continuously
during off-peak times by as much as
75% at light loads*. When condenser
water drops, so does the condenser
saturated temperature. As the compressor
head (delta P) reduces, the compressor

* Based on ARI 550/59 1998 IPLV part load conditions

torque also reduces. Thus the motor

Impact of VSD at Off-Design Conditions

works lesser and energy consumption is

reduced. As a result, payback is fast
0.60

particularly where wet bulb temperature is

0.55

low typically between one to three years

0.50

but the monthly savings continue to

With its Adaptive Capacity Control logic,

a YORK VSD drive learns how a chiller
operates and maps surge points. This

0.45

kW/ton

mount up.

60%
100%

Typical
Centrifugal
Chiller

100%
60%

Centrifugal
Chiller
With VSD

0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25

enables the fine-tuning of motor speed

0.20

and pre-rotation vane (PRV) position for

0.15

various load and water temperature

combinations a performance no simple

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

Entering Condenser Water Temp. (oF)

Chiller Water Temperature

Temperature Setpoint

Optimum Motor Speed

Evaporator/Condenser Pressure
PRV Positio
Actual Motor Speed
Optimum PRV Position

The Adaptive Capacity Control learns and remembers optimum motor speed and PRV position for a given set of conditions, which fine-tunes chiller performance

VSD

Head Pressure
High
Head

High
Head

Pressure
Pressure

Low
Head

Head Pressure

Head Pressure

Condenser
Compressor
Evaporator

Condenser
Compressor
Evaporator

Enthalpy
Enthalpy

Lowers condensing
water temperature

A VSDs power requirements are frugal

And because 99% of the time it is not

with start-up amps 60% lower than

running at full-speed, moving parts

conventional chiller drives. Conventional

experience less wear, increasing reliability

Lowers head pressure

starters can have inrush currents which

even further. Slower speeds also mean less

generate heat, and flexing critical points in

noise. With a YORK VSD in place, chiller

Reduces
compressor work

plant noise drops by as much as 10

the motor windings. With a VSD fitted, the

Reduces energy
consumption

decibels.

chillers motor starts more slowly, (soft

start) never drawing more than 100% of

YORKs distinctive technology is in-built in

full-load amps, which increases motor life

the system with display of critical operating

and reliability. As proof, chillers controlled

conditions on the Optiview Control Centre.

by a VSD drive can be restarted in as little

This simplifies the monitoring and diagnostic

as few minutes, making quick-turn,

inspection. Hence problems can be

emergency restarts possible.

identified and resolved before its too late.

Fast
Fast Payback
Payback
Under
Under 3
3 Years
Years

VSD Provides Soft Start

Inrush Current

Motor FLA(%)

500
400
300
200
Star-Delta Starter

VSD Drive

100
Compared to electro-mechanical starters.
VSD drives reduce current inrush and motor wear.

10

20

30

40

Time (Sec)

VSD
Adaptive Capacity Control Logic
The Intelligent Approach to Energy Conservation
To understand how a chiller equipped with

the vanes continue to close, they create

a VSD drive can offer 30% lower energy

frictional losses, reducing efficiency and

costs, consider the two factors that affect

limiting energy-saving capability.

energy consumption: load and entering

YORKs VSD drive monitors several

condenser-water temperature. A reduction

operating conditions: chilled water, chilled

in either can save energy, however, the

water set-point, evaporator and condenser

method by which the chiller is controlled

pressures, inlet vane position, and motor

can have a major impact on the magnitude

speed. Differences in impeller geometry

of these savings.

make each chillers operating characteristics

unique. Adaptive Capacity Control (ACC)

A constant-speed chiller reacts to lower

logic determines the optimal motor speed

load or lower entering-condenser-water

and inlet vane position identifying your

temperature by closing its pre-rotation

chillers surge points in order to

vanes (PRV), which throttle the refrigerant

maximize efficiency and minimize energy

flow and save some energy. However, as

consumption.

PRV closes as load decreases

Motor remains constant

Adaptive Capacity Control Logic

Optimizes compressor or efficiency

Motor speed slows down
Optimizes PRV position

Consumes
Less Energy

YORK Energy Saving Excellence

YORKs VSD reduces chiller energy consumption by 15-25% annually

YORK is your choice

Our wide breadth of product lines

range from small residential room air
conditioners to the largest chillers
used to cool the tallest buildings,
provide life support systems in the
deepest diving ocean submarines,
and enable critical process cooling in
the petrochemical, pharmaceutical
and microelectronics industries of the
world.
YORK has been chosen by worldrenowned organizations including the
US Capitol, the Kremlin, the Sydney
Opera House, the Trans-Channel
Eurotunnel, the National Theatre of
China, the Grand Palace of Thailand,
the Hong Kong Convention &
Exhibition Centre, the Kuala Lumpur
City Centre and Taipei 101, the world's
tallest building.

Reference Projects in Asia

Just to name a few...
Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong
Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong
Causeway Bay CRC, Hong Kong
Changi Water Reclamation Plant, Singapore
China Square, Singapore
East Point Centre, Hong Kong
Harbour Centre, Hong Kong
HASEL, Hong Kong
Hitachi, Thailand
Infineon Technology, Singapore
Johnson & Johnson, Thailand
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong
Kwai Chung Plaza, Hong Kong
Langham Place, Hong Kong
Macau Fishermans Wharf, Macau

Macau Government Hospital, Macau

Macau Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Macau
Maxims Food Factory, Hong Kong
National University of Singapore, Singapore
Ocean Centre, Hong Kong
Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong
Queensway Government Office, Hong Kong
Plaza Singapura, Singapore
Science Park Building 9, Hong Kong
Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel, PRC
Shui On Centre, Hong Kong
Skyplaza Building, Hong Kong
Sun Hung Kai Centre, Hong Kong
Tsuen Wan Plaza, Hong Kong
US Embassy, Thailand

YORKs Commitment - Superior Quality Excellent Service Distinctive Technology

Asia Pacific Headquarters
1 Genting Lane, #03-00 Kenwood Building, Singapore 349544
Tel: +65 6748 0202
Fax: +65 6743 4420

Greater China Headquarters

15/F, Telecom Tower, Whart T & T Square, 123 Hoi Bun Rd, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2331 9286
Fax: +852 2331 9840

Australia

Tel: +61 (7) 3391 4772

Fax: +61 (7) 3391 4704

China (Shanghai)

Tel: +86 (21) 6276 6509

Fax: +86 (21) 6277 3543

Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2331 9286

Fax: +852 2331 9840

India

Tel: +91 (22) 3088 1455

Fax: +91 (22) 3088 1534

Indonesia

Tel: +62 (21) 626 3535

Fax: +62 (21) 659 8875

Japan

Tel: +81 (0) 78 991 6885

Fax: +81 (0) 78 991 6889

Korea

Tel: +82 (2) 548 2114

Fax: +82 (2) 548 3222

New Zealand

Tel: +64 (9) 444 6434

Fax: +64 (9) 444 2092

Philippines

Tel: +63 (2) 830 0291

Fax: +63 (2) 812 0928

Singapore

Tel: +65 6284 5722

Fax: +65 6283 3015

Taiwan

Tel: +886 (2) 2599 2255

Fax: +886 (2) 2599 3377

Thailand

Tel: +66 (2) 721 0500

Fax: +66 (2) 721 1590

Vietnam

Tel: +84 (8) 930 2820

Fax: +84 (8) 930 2822

www.york.com
YORK reserves the right to change product features without prior notice.

Form No.: E-E17.SL.HK(0306)

Supersedes: E-E17.SL.HK(1105)

YORK, a Johnson Controls Company,

is a leading global provider of heating,
ventilation, air conditioning, and
refrigeration (HVAC&R) products and
services.