Field evaluation of advanced controls for the retrofit of packaged air conditioners and heat pumps

Weimin Wang, Srinivas Katipamula, Hung Ngo, Ronald Underhill, Danny Taasevigen and Robert Lutes

Applied Energy, 2015, vol. 154, issue C, 344-351

Abstract: This paper documents the magnitude of energy savings achievable in the field by retrofitting existing packaged rooftop air conditioner and heat pump units (RTUs) with advanced control strategies not ordinarily used for RTUs. A total of 66 RTUs on 8 different buildings were retrofitted with a commercially available advanced controller for improving operational efficiency. The controller features enhanced air-side economizer control, multi-speed fan control, and demand-controlled ventilation. Of the 66 RTUs, 18 are packaged heat pumps and the rest are packaged air conditioners with gas heat. The eight buildings cover four building types and four climate conditions. Based on the performance data collected for approximately 1year, the normalized annual energy consumption savings ranged between 22% and 90%, with an average of 57% for all RTUs. The average fractional savings uncertainty was 12% at 95% confidence level. Normalized annual electricity savings were in the range between 0.47kWh/h (kWh per hour of RTU operation) and 7.21kWh/h, with an average of 2.39kWh/h. RTUs greater than 53kW and runtime greater than 14h per day had payback periods less than 3years even at electricity price of $0.05/kWh.

Keywords: Packaged air conditioner; Packaged heat pump; Retrofit; HVAC control; Field test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:154:y:2015:i:c:p:344-351

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.129

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