Verification of Energy Reduction Effect through Control Optimization of Supply Air Temperature in VRF-OAP System

Je Hyeon Lee, Hyun Jin Yoon, Piljae Im and Young-hak Song
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Je Hyeon Lee: Department of Digital Appliances R&D Team, Samsung Electronics, 129, Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16677, Korea
Hyun Jin Yoon: Department of Digital Appliances R&D Team, Samsung Electronics, 129, Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16677, Korea
Piljae Im: Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
Young-hak Song: Department of Architectural Engineering, ERI, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju daero 501, Jinju City 52828, Korea

Energies, 2017, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: This paper developed an algorithm that controls the supply air temperature in the variable refrigerant flow (VRF), outdoor air processing unit (OAP) system, according to indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, and verified the effects after applying the algorithm to real buildings. The VRF-OAP system refers to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to complement a ventilation function, which is not provided in the VRF system. It is a system that supplies air indoors by heat treatment of outdoor air through the OAP, as a number of indoor units and OAPs are connected to the outdoor unit in the VRF system simultaneously. This paper conducted experiments with regard to changes in efficiency and the cooling capabilities of each unit and system according to supply air temperature in the OAP using a multicalorimeter. Based on these results, an algorithm that controlled the temperature of the supply air in the OAP was developed considering indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity. The algorithm was applied in the test building to verify the effects of energy reduction and the effects on indoor temperature and humidity. Loads were changed by adjusting the number of conditioned rooms to verify the effect of the algorithm according to various load conditions. In the field test results, the energy reduction effect was approximately 15–17% at a 100% load, and 4–20% at a 75% load. However, no significant effects were shown at a 50% load. The indoor temperature and humidity reached a comfortable level.

Keywords: variable refrigerant system (VRF); outdoor air processing unit (OAP); control algorithm; experiment; field test; energy savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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