Development of an Optimal Start Control Strategy for a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System

Yusung Lee and Woohyun Kim
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Yusung Lee: School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
Woohyun Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: In this study, an optimal control strategy for the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system is developed using a data-driven model and on-site data to save the building energy. Three data-based models are developed to improve the on-site applicability. The presented models are used to determine the length of time required to bring each zone from its current temperature to the set point. The existing data are used to evaluate and validated the predictive performance of three data-based models. Experiments are conducted using three outdoor units and eight indoor units on site. The experimental test is performed to validate the performance of proposed optimal control by comparing between conventional and optimal control methods. Then, the ability to save energy wasted for maintaining temperature after temperature reaches the set points is evaluated through the comparison of energy usage. Given these results, 30.5% of energy is saved on average for each outdoor unit and the proposed optimal control strategy makes the zones comfortable.

Keywords: optimal control strategy; optimal start; variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system; energy saving (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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