Modeling and energy simulation of the variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with water-cooled condenser under cooling conditions

As a new system, variable refrigerant flow system with water-cooled condenser (water-cooled VRF) can offer several interesting characteristics for potential users. However, at present, its dynamic simulation simultaneously in association with building and other equipments is not yet included in the energy simulation programs. Based on the EnergyPlus's codes, and using manufacturer's performance parameters and data, the special simulation module for water-cooled VRF is developed and embedded in the software of EnergyPlus. After modeling and testing the new module, on the basis of a typical office building in Shanghai with water-cooled VRF system, the monthly and seasonal cooling energy consumption and the breakdown of the total power consumption are analyzed. The simulation results show that, during the whole cooling period, the fan-coil plus fresh air (FPFA) system consumes about 20% more power than the water-cooled VRF system does. The power comparison between the water-cooled VRF system and the air-cooled VRF system is performed too. All of these can provide designers some ideas to analyze the energy features of this new system and then to determine a better scheme of the air conditioning system.

[1]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Simulation and experimental validation of the variable-refrigerant-volume (VRV) air-conditioning system in EnergyPlus , 2008 .

[2]  Shih-Cheng Hu,et al.  Development and testing of a multi-type air conditioner without using AC inverters , 2004 .

[3]  Borong Lin,et al.  Sustainable housing and urban construction in China , 2004 .

[4]  Ricardo Nicolau Nassar Koury,et al.  Numerical simulation of a variable speed refrigeration system , 2001 .

[5]  Lin Shi,et al.  Moderately high temperature water source heat-pumps using a near-azeotropic refrigerant mixture , 2005 .

[6]  Liu Chuan-ju.  The Experimental Study of the Operating Characteristic and Energy Consumption of the VRV Air-conditioning System , 2003 .

[7]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Energy simulation in the variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning system under cooling conditions , 2007 .

[8]  Jeffrey D. Spitler,et al.  Simulation of hybrid ground-coupled heat pump with domestic hot water heating systems using HVACSIM+ , 2008 .

[9]  Gregory M. Maxwell,et al.  An empirical validation of the daylighting algorithms and associated interactions in building energy simulation programs using various shading devices and windows , 2007 .

[10]  Z. Lian,et al.  Analysis on energy consumption of water-loop heat pump system in China , 2005 .

[11]  S. C. Sekhar,et al.  A critical evaluation of variable air volume system in hot and humid climates , 1997 .

[12]  Ma Zui-liang.  Water Loop VRF Air Conditioning System and Its Project Application , 2006 .

[13]  F. W. Yu,et al.  Improved energy performance of air cooled centrifugal chillers with variable chilled water flow , 2008 .

[14]  Mohammad S. Al-Homoud,et al.  Computer-aided building energy analysis techniques , 2001 .

[15]  Theodore F. Smith,et al.  Evaluation of HVAC system operational strategies for commercial buildings , 1997 .

[16]  M. Zaheer-uddin,et al.  Dynamic simulation of energy management control functions for HVAC systems in buildings , 2006 .

[17]  Jiaping Liu,et al.  Building energy simulation using multi-years and typical meteorological years in different climates , 2008 .

[18]  R. Judkoff,et al.  Applying the building energy simulation test (BESTEST) diagnostic method to verification of space conditioning equipment models used in whole-building energy simulation programs , 2002 .

[19]  Chao Chen,et al.  Underground water-source loop heat-pump air-conditioning system applied in a residential building in Beijing , 2005 .

[20]  Li Xinguo,et al.  Thermal performance and energy saving effect of water-loop heat pump systems with geothermal , 1998 .