Chiller vs VRF system

LG Electronics Inc.
LGEHQ CAC Team
1/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

1. Design Comparison
Design

Operation

System concept

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

VRF is very simplified refrigerant piping system. More flexible than water pi
Feature
System
composition

Chiller system
Chiller
FCU (Fan Coil Unit)
AHU (Air Handling Unit)

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Cooling tower
Water piping, Duct working
Water pumps

Outdoor unit (air-cooled type)

Indoor unit
Refrigerant piping

Chiller

2/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

1. Design Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Network design
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

Easy network wiring

Feature
Network

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Complicated wiring

Simple wiring

ACP

3/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

1. Design Comparison
Design

Operation

Total management

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

(For VRF) Manufacturer provide all equipment

Feature

Chiller system

Control
system

Complicated control structure, additional

control manager in the system needed,
increasing cost
Third part control provider needed,
interconnectivity problems.

[Manufacturer]

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Simple control structure
No additional control provider
Central control and energy monitoring with
low cost available

VAV boxes
supplier
4/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

2. Operation Comparison
Design

Operation

Individual operation

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

After office hours operation, VRF could be operated for the user demands.
Feature

Chiller system

Capacity
control

The systems commonly condition the entire building

at predetermined times, with no regard to user demands.
(very hot midnight, weekend, holiday etc)

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

The systems condition only the
necessary rooms with regard
to user demands.

Operating Area

< Limited operation>

5/14

<Better Capacity operation>

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

2. Operation Comparison
Design

Operation

Temp. control

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

Precise temperature control

Feature

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Temperature
control

Require
1 or 2

Very precise
0.5

Cooling

MULTI V system
Chiller system

Room temp.

30
0.5 0 C from set point
25
20
15

10

20

30
6/14

40

50

60

70

MIN.
Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

3. Installation Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Space (Duct working)

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

VRF system doesnt need a duct space.

Feature
Space
Efficiency

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Large duct space

Small refrigerant space

7/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

3. Installation Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Installation space
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

VRF system is no need for a machine room.

Feature

Chiller system

Installation
space

Need a machine room

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

No need a machine room

Pump
(Machine room drawing)
(Rooftop drawing)

Chiller

Boiler

Outdoor
Unit

Cooling
tower
(On the rooftop)

(On the rooftop)

8/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

3. Installation Comparison
Design

Operation

Space (Pipe shaft)

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

Efficient use of space is possible for VRF system

Feature
Space
Efficiency

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Large pipe shaft is needed for water piping

Small pipe shaft is needed

CHILLER SYSTEM

VRF System

1/3
P

P
9/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

3. Installation Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

System expansion
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

VRF system expansion is very easy with extra outdoor & indoor unit.
Feature

System
Expansion

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Capacity addition is difficult

as additional mechanical room, pump, cooling tower,
panel and piping is required.

System Expansion is Easy

10/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

4. Commissioning Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

NO. of commissioning point

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

There are a lot of commissioning points for the chiller system

Feature

Chiller system

Commissioning

6 Steps Commissioning

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

1 Step Commissioning

(4)

6 steps Commissioning

1 step Commissioning

Water cooled chiller (3)

11/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

5. Maintenance Comparison
Design

Operation

Maintenance list

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

Maintenance costs for a Multi V is lower than chilled water systems.

Feature

Maintenance

Chiller system

Filter cleaning
Duct cleaning
Water pipe maintenance
Periodical oil change, overhaul

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Pump
Water treatment
Cooling tower cleaning

Filter cleaning
Heat exchanger cleaning
Cycle check by notebook (LG MV)

(4)

Water cooled chiller (3)

12/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

5. Maintenance Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Water treatment
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

(For Chiller Water treatment is required for clean water)

Feature
Water
treatment

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Water treatment is required

(deficient service can cause legionary disease in the system)

No water treatment is needed

<Polluted Cooling Tower>

13/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

5. Maintenance Comparison
Design

Operation

Scale cleaning

Installation

Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

(For Chiller) Maintenance & cleaning periodically by exclusive company

Feature
Scale
cleaning

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Need to clean the water pipes

System efficiency drop & origin of germs

No water pipes : No scale (use

refrigerant)

Unit : %

Unit : mm

thickness of scale

Energy Loss

After 2~3year

After 5~6year

After 7~8year

10%

25~30%

35~40%
14/14

< The system is consist of refrigerant pipes >

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

5. Maintenance Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Maintenance Staff
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

(For Chiller) Certified maintenance staff is needed

Feature

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Maintenance
Staff

The system requires certified maintenance

staff not only for chillers but also pumps,
boilers, cooling towers etc.
More expensive maintenance cost.

No need special maintenance staff.

Economic and easy maintenance

< Maintenance Staff>

<NO Maintenance Staff>

15/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

6. Reliability Comparison
Design

Operation

Installation

Pipe Erosion
Commissioning

Maintenance

Reliability

(For Chiller) Certified maintenance staff is needed

Feature
Pipe
Erosion

Chiller system

MULTI V Plus (VRF)

Pipe erosion can cause leakage.

System capacity reduction.
Brines use increase corrosion, anti corrosion
additives needed

< Water pipe leakage >

Refrigerant does not cause corrosion therefore

no pipe damage occurred

<Cooper Pipe>
16/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

7. Economic analysis
Initial Cost

MULTI V vs Chiller

Running Cost

Maintenance Cost

Total cost

Equipments & Installation cost

Type of Building: Shopping Mall
Total area 9,000 m2 : 6 storey Building :1,500 m2/floor
Actual cooling area : 1,500 m2 * 80 % * 6 Floor = 7,200 m2
Cooling Load (Tr) / m2 : 700 Tr *12000 Btu/Hr = 1,166 Btu/m2
Equipment : Water cooled chiller /Multi V unit
- Water Cooled Chiller :Trane Water cooled chiller
350 Tr x 2 set =700 Tr + 300 Back up
Pumps =400 Tr x 2 set
AHU = 8000 CFM x 36 set
Cooling Tower =1200 Gpm x 3 +3 Back up
- VRF System :LG Multi V Plus II
48 Hp x 19 set=912 Hp 726 Tr
Air conditioning time : Operation
- 13 hour a day (09:00 ~ 22:00)
- 30 days a month
- average load by month

Category

Water
Cooled
Chiller

VRV

17/14

April 2008
Cooling Only
Air Duct Included

Product

Initial Cost
(USD)

Chiller Price

355,484

AHU / Cooling
Tower / Pump,
Price

148,065

Installation

383,871

Multi V

874,498

Installation

235,161

Initial Cost
(USD)Total

877,097

1,109,660

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

7. Economic analysis
Initial Cost

MULTI V vs Chiller

Running Cost

Maintenance Cost

Total cost

Electrical cost
Multi V running cost is 65 % compare to chiller

Category

Product

Chiller

Running
Cost
(USD)Total

Multi V

Chiller Price
Water
Cooled
Chiller
Multi V

AHU /
Cooling
Tower /
Pump, Price
Price

Running cost
Savings up to
15th yr : 35%

308,697

200,158
Based on KW data chiller/Multi V
Based on, Thailand electrical standard
ARI-Air conditioning & Refrigeration Institute

18/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

7. Economic analysis
Initial Cost

MULTI V vs Chiller

Running Cost

Maintenance Cost

Total cost

Maintenance cost
Multi V maintenance cost is 24 % compare to chiller
Category

Price

Chiller

Maintenance
Cost
(USD)Total

Multi V

Chiller Price
Water
Cooled
Chiller
Multi V

AHU / Cooling
Tower / Pump,
Price

32,177

Price

11,468

Maintenance
Cost savings
Up to 15th yr
: 66%

Maintenance breakdown
Chiller system -31 USD / Rt / yr.- 6 times/yr
Multi V- 48 USD / Indoor / yr.- 6 times/yr
- 145 USD / Outdoor / yr.- 6 times/yr

19/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

7. Economic analysis
Initial Cost

Running Cost

Category

Maintenance Cost

Chiller system

VRF system

Initial cost
(USD)

877,097

927,057

Running cost
(USD)

308,698

200,158

32,177

11,468

Economic Maintenace cost

Analysis
(USD)
Total cost (USD)
BEP

1,217,972
-

Total cost

Remarks

1,138,683

Shopping
mall
6F, 9,000

1.7 years

20/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

8. LCC
LCC (Life Cycle Cost for 15 years) : Chiller 5.99 M$ > Multi V 4.27 M$ (71%)
BEP (Break Even Point)
: 1.7 Years

BEP

LCC (15 years)

+70K$

Cost savings
: 29%
+40K$

BEP :
1.7 Years
+10K$

BEP :
1.7 Years
- 20K$

1st year
21/14

2nd year

3rd year

4th year

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

8. LCC
Initial Cost (1st year)

LCC (15 years)

( K US$ )

1,228

5,992
7%

Electrical Fee

Maintenance

Product &

308

1,321

35%

4,274

Electrical Fee

200
11

77%

73%

8%

4%

15%

23%

Chiller

Multi V

32

1,109

Maintenance

877

Installation
Product &
Installation

Chiller

Multi V

22/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

App. Cost estimation

23/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

App. Actual running cost

24/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

App. Maintenance cost

25/14

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.

App. Energy efficiency (IPLV)

ARI Released The New Standard in 2003
Available through
the ARI web site:
WWW.ARI.ORG

Portion by cooling load (%)

kW / kW (ARI Part load weighting factors)

IPLV
OR =
APLV

1
0.01 + 0.42 + 0.45 + 0.12
A
B
C
D

ARI550/590-2003

WEIGHTED (%)
Cooling Load

26/14

1%

42%

45%

12%

100%

75%

50%

25%

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved LG Electronics Inc.