ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION

FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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Energy Simulation In The Variable Refrigerant Flow
Air-Conditioning System Under Cooling Condition

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a high-eIIiciency air-conditioning scheme, the variable reIrigerant Ilow (VRF) air-
conditioning system is Iinding its way in oIIice buildings. However, there is no well-known energy
simulation soItware available so Iar which can be used Ior the energy analysis oI VRF. Based on the
generic dynamic building energy simulation environment, Energy Plus, a new VRF module is
developed and the energy usage oI the VRF system is investigated. This paper compares the energy
consumption oI the VRF system with that oI two conventional air-conditioning systems, namely,
variable air volume (VAV) system as well as Ian-coil plus Iresh air (FPFA) system. A generic oIIice
building is used to accommodate the diIIerent types oI heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
(HVAC) systems. The work Iocuses on the energy consumption oI the VRF system in the oIIice
buildings and helps the designer`s evaluation and decision-making on the HVAC systems in the early
stages oI building design. Simulation results show that the energy-saving potentials oI the VRF
system are expected to achieve 22.2 and 11.7, compared with the VAV system and the FPFA
system, respectively. Energy-usage breakdown Ior the end-users in various systems is also presented.













ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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Introduction
As the world`s second largest energy consumer, aIter US, China is now only one oI the
largest oil importers in the world. Recent work on computer energy simulation studies and Iield
surveys reveals that air conditioning represent 37-60 oI total electricity use in oIIice building in
accordance with buildings` Iunctions. Consequently, studies on the eIIects oI heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning (HVAC) system, along with building envelope, novel technologies oI the utilization
oI natural energy and occupant behaviours, on energy eIIiciency by simulation is becoming concerns
Ior proIessionals in this Iield. This paper addresses the simulation oI the variable reIrigerant Ilow air-
conditioning (VRF) system, which is being popular in commercial buildings such as small oIIices,
shopping centres, hotels, and oI course, domestic occasions in China.
At present, researchers in the VRF Iield Iocus their interests mainly on Ieatures oI the
equipment itselI, e.g. the simulation or experiment oI the control logic oI the variable speed
compressor, reIrigerant distribution, and the control method oI electric expansion valve (EEV), or
modelling oI novel algorithm Ior various types oI system part.
So Iar, there is no well-known energy simulation soItware available yet which can be used Ior
the energy analysis oI VRF. This paper investigates energy Ieatures oI the VRF system and develops a
new model in Energy Plus that is a new-generation building energy simulation program (BESP), to
evaluate the energy-use level oI the VRF air-conditioning system and hence to make above
comparison. The examination oI various air-conditioning strategies Ior the medium-sized oIIice
building helps the owners and energy researchers to make decision. The knowledge oI how to choose
the HVAC system aIIects the building perIormance and can serve as a powerIul aIIects the building
perIormance and can tool Ior building designers and owners at last. Computer simulations oI diIIerent
systems is able to, in advance, provide insights in balancing various types oI system plans and
justiIying the most appropriate system, and the diIIerences can be quantiIied.
The Iirst part oI this investigation will Iocus on veriIication oI the newly developed VRF model
by comparing simulation outcomes with the experimental results in a literature |20|. The new model
in Energy Plus is testiIied to be able to simulate the VRF system`s energy characteristics at part-load
operating conditions. As covered in this study, the second part oI the investigation is concerned with
application oI Energy Plus with the validated model. A generic oIIice building in Shanghai is used Ior
the simulation study. Through graphical analysis, the energy consumptions oI three popular systems,
namely, the variable air volume (VAV) system, the VRF system, the Ian-coil.



ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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2 Modelling and programming

2.1. Schematic flowchart of the JRF system modelling in
Energy Plus

Hourly cooling loads Ior the building are calculated in this study by the building simulation
program, Energy Plus, which employs the heat balance engine with HVAC system integrated into the
building simulation. More accurate than the weighting Iactor method used in its predecessors such as
DOE-2, the heat balance method permits better simulation oI a building`s response to its heating and
cooling system by allowing Ieedback between two main simulation components. The well-organized
modular structure in the soItware allows users adding speciIic modules according to their own needs.
The Energy Plus program has been extensively validated through analytical, comparative, sensitivity,
range, and empirical tests. The simulation results to date show good agreement with well-established
simulation tools such as DOE-2.1E, BLAST, and ESP.



Fig.1. Flowchart of the new JRF model embedded into Energy Plus.
ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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Energy Plus utilizes the perIormance-curve-oriented way to calculate the energy perIormance
oI HVAC systems. Detailed perIormance data and parameters, along with their applicability
conditions usually shipped in the manuIacture catalogue, thereIore, are requirements.
Fig.1 shows the schematic process oI modelling in source codes oI Energy Plus. The new
speciIic input parameters Ior VRF are deIined Iirst in the Input Processor module, which thereby gets
the required inIormation to simulate a VRF system. The energy consumption calculation oI VRF is
then embedded in the so-called Manage HVAC module. As the kernel program in the source codes oI
Energy Plus, Manage HVAC conducts the whole HVAC system`s energy simulation, including air
loops, zone equipments, plant supply and demand sides, and condenser supply and demand sides.
AIter the simulation is Iinished successIully, electricity usage oI the VRF system, as well as other
abundant calculation results in CSV Iormat, can be supplied to users Ior Iurther research and analysis.


2.2.Description of the main JRF calculation program

Based on aIorementioned modelling considerations, the coding work Ior calculation oI the
energy consumption oI the VRF system is established at right place in the Energy Plus source code
and in the Energy Plus coding style.
Being consistent with the original open characteristics in Energy Plus, the newly developed
module allows necessary expansibility. For example, in these codes, the number oI indoor units is
limited in eight currently. They are able to be extended to any desired amounts according to user
needs.



3 Validation
.1. Building and system description

A single-Iloor multi-zone building is used to testiIy the simulation eIIect oI the VRF energy-
calculation module embedded in Energy Plus. The building is divided into six thermal zones, in which
there is a conditioned area oI 66.67 m Ior zones 14, and oI 100 m Ior each oI other two zones. The
ground-to-ceiling height is 4 m.



ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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The six thermal zones are split to two groups, namely, Group 1 consisting oI zones 13, and
Group 2 consisting oI other three zones. Each group is served by a VRF outdoor unit oI nominal
cooling capacity 28.0 kW, called VRF-1 or VRF-2. The cooling load in each thermal zone is satisIied
by an indoor unit oI nominal cooling capacity 11.2 kW. The product types are RHXYQ10MAY1 Ior
the outdoor unit and FXFQ100KML Ior the indoor unit separately.

There exist three categories oI space internal gains Ior each zone, people, lights, and oIIice
electric equipments. Four occupants stay in each zone, where space lighting oI 1400 W is installed.
The design level oI the electric equipments is 2160 W Ior zones 14, and 3240 W Ior zones 5 and 6.


.2. Simulation results under the conditions of different
amount of operating indoor units

Taking the VRF-1 system as an instance, Fig. 4 denotes power-use curves oI the VRF system,
under a group oI indoor temperature set points, namely 22 8C, 24 8C, 26 8C, and 28 8C, when all
three indoor units are operating. The electricity usage oI the VRF-1 system increases gradually, with
the outdoor air dry bulb temperature going up. The outdoor air temperature achieves its daily top 32.6
8C on 15:00. By contrast, the power use gets to its highest value on 16:00, due to the delay oI cooling
load. Simulation results Ior diIIerent set points in the Iigure (and diIIerent amount oI operating indoor
units) show good consistency on trend with the experimental outcomes in the literature.


ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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Fig. 4. Power use of the JRF-1 system with three indoor units on.


It is noticed that there are some cooling loads when outdoor air temperature is lower than the
indoor air temperature during 8:0011:30 in the morning. Compared with the recommended value
16.15 W/m2 in the literature, the design density oI oIIice equipment 32.40 W/m2 is Iound much
higher; at the same time well-insulated building envelops (i.e. adiabatic ground and no Ienestration at
all Ior some zones) contribute to prevent larger internal heat gains escaping Irom the building shell,
thus corresponding cooling amount Irom air-conditioning indoor units is required to meet the set point
oI the thermostat. To some extent, the zones behave essentially like an interior zone being aIIected
little by the outside weather in large commercial buildings.


.. Relationship between coefficient of performance and
part-load ratio

Fig. 7 describes the relationship between coeIIicient oI perIormance (COP) and part-load ratio
(PLR) Ior the two outdoor VRF units. The evolution patterns Ior both outdoor units are rather similar.
The COP values Ior the units decrease with increment oI PLR. When PLR locates in the range Irom
0.4 to 0.6, the COP values attain their maximums in the day; when PLRs get their value Irom 0.81 to
0.87, the COPs Iall to their lowest points. It is shown that COP reaches its diurnal maximum values
when PLR ranges Irom 0.4 to 0.6 in this simulation. This simulation result is in accordance with the
conclusion oI the experiment.



Fig. 7. Correlations between COP and PLR.


In order to make a comparison between VRF and traditional window air-conditioners (wind
AC), a simulation run with one wind AC- per-zone scheme is established. That means each zone is
served by one window air-conditioner. With all the indoor units or wind ACs working in the
ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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simulation, Fig. 8 shows the daily absolute changes oI the COP value Ior the VRF-1 system and
corresponding alternative window air-conditioners in the Group 1 zones. It can be shown that COPs in
both systems achieve their highest point one aIter the other between 8:00 and10:00, and their lowest
points during 13:0015:00. The diurnal variation between maximum and minimum COP gets up to
1.12 Ior the VRF system, compared to 0.5 Ior window air conditioners. In other words, it denotes that
the VRF system has a more Ilexible and sensitive response to the cooling loads in the whole-day
running, compared with the window air conditioners It reIlects the ability oI VRF on tracking cooling
load duly at a higher operational eIIiciency. Meanwhile, the COP value oI the VRF system keeps
much higher than those oI the window air-conditioners. This result indicates the superior perIormance
at part load Ior the VRF system.



Fig. 8. Comparison on the daily amplitude of COPs between the JRF-1 system
and the window air-conditioners.


Case studies: Building and system descriptions

As an application oI the VRF energy-calculation module in Energy Plus, a comparative
energy studies is conducted among three popular HVAC systems in China, namely, VAV, FPFA, and
VRF. In this study, various systems are examined so that their applicability and Ieatures can be
identiIied Irom the energy use`s point view by simulation analysis.
A general 10-storey oIIice building is developed to serve as a platIorm which can
accommodate diIIerent air-conditioning systems Ior the purpose oI comparison research. How to
select the building type and materials Ior evaluation oI diIIerent kinds oI HVAC systems is based on
the commercial building studied by Li et al. |3|, Miyazaki et al. |28|, and Ardehali and Smith|29|.
However, in this study, some oI the building envelope Ieatures are modiIied to meet the present
research conditions. Each Iloor oI the building is divided into six conditioned thermal zones,
ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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corresponding to Iour outside exposures (north, The typical Iloor in the simulation incorporates a Iloor
multiplier oI 8 to account Ior the actual number oI middle Iloors in the building.

In this investigation, the Iollowing assumptions are made :

O All the Iloor plans in the sample building are the same. There
are not basement spaces underneath the building.
O Only one type oI HVAC system is installed to serve the
building in each case.
O The indoor air set points are identical everywhere in the
building.
O A single chiller serves the whole building, while a VRV
system per Iloor supplies needed cooling

The water-cooled type chiller and the VRF equipments Irom the same manuIacturer are
chosen to meet the cooling demand. There are not shading devices associated with the building
envelope, nor are there any adjacent tall buildings that would bring on daytime shading. There is no
rooI glazing or skylights in the sample building. The geographical and weather Iile, inIiltration,
thermostat, and other parameters related to building load calculations are the same Ior all the HVAC
systems simulated.

Conclusion

Computer simulation is a convenient tool oI assessing building energy perIormance, air-
conditioning system Ieatures, and system operational strategies. It allows users to test their ideas and
designs to see what the impact oI their decisions would be on energy consumption and other aspects.
In this study, a new module is developed in the BESP program Energy Plus, in order to evaluate the
beneIits oI the VRF system under cooling condition in terms oI energy usage. A case study is then
made to demonstrate the application oI the new module Ior the VRF air-conditioning system in a
medium-sized oIIice building.
Simulation results Irom the electricity-usage comparison among VAV, FPFA, and VRF
systems implies that the VRF air conditioning system is the most energy eIIicient, compared with
other two conventional systems. The energy-saving potentials oI the VRF system are expected to
achieve 22.2 and 11.7, compared with the VAV system and the FPFA system, respectively. With
the same nominal cooling capacity, the VRF system and VAV (or FPFA) plus chillers system
consume notably diIIerent electricity energy, due to various ways in transporting cooling media and
diversity oI part-load perIormance. This study provides architects and engineers some ideas to analyze
ENERGY SIMULATION IN THE VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOWAIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM UNDER COOLING CONDITION
FATIN NADHIRAH BINTI MD SHAH

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the energy Ieatures oI the VRF system and to evaluate diIIerent systems by the view oI energy
characteristics, especially during the primary conceptual design stage.

It is pertinent to note that inIluencing Iactors oI the energy consumption oI air-conditioning
system is Iairly complicated in real buildings. Building designs, constructions, operation strategies,
chillers conIiguration, maintenances, and other unpredictable ingredients can impact on the eventual
Iacility bills Ior buildings. Simulations oIIer an ideal benchmark oI energy usage oI the integration oI
the building, air-conditioning systems and artiIicial interIerence under a certain condition, rather than
a predetermined augur. But this investigation still owns its sense in suggesting the VRF system may
be an attractive option and a more eIIicient operation Ior a new installation or a changeover Irom an
ineIIicient old system, by an energy use perspective.
The Iuture work will include the economic evaluation and liIe-cycle cost analysis oI various
Iorms oI HVAC systems. Also, electricity-usage Iield tests oI the VRF system are underway, as a part
oI the extension oI this research, so that the results can be veriIied. Further, the VRF system`s
perIormance in heating condition would be researched.

References
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O Y.X. Zhu, B.R. Lin, Sustainable housing and urban construction in China,
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O Z.F. Xue, Y. Jiang, Energy consumption and energy saving potential
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