ASHRAE Presentation: VRF Overview

Mitsubishi Electric
Presenter:
email
Phone number

2011 Mitsubishi Electric& Electronics USA, Inc.

Agenda
General overview of VRF Technology

Review of Design Considerations

Benefits of VRF
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)
 Heat Pump
versus

Heat Pump with Heat Recovery

Heat Pump
Heat Pump

Outdoor Indoor Controls

Unit Units System
Heat Pump

Outdoor Indoor Controls

Unit Units System
Heat Pump Applications

Restaurants Lobbies Churches

Others?
Heat Pump with Heat Recovery
Simultaneous Cooling & Heating
Heat Pump with Heat Recovery
Simultaneous Cooling & Heating

Outdoor Branch Indoor Controls

Unit Circuit Units System
Controller
Heat Pump with Heat Recovery
Simultaneous Cooling & Heating

Outdoor Branch Indoor Controls

Unit Circuit Units System
Controller
Heat Pump with Heat Recovery Applications
Simultaneous Cooling & Heating

Schools Assisted Living Facility Offices

Others?
What is the purpose of each component?
 Outdoor Unit
Controls compressor speed

Controls condenser fan speed

Controls pressure of refrigerant to maximize capacity and efficiency

 Branch Circuit (BC) Controller
Separates refrigerant into gas and liquid

Ensures units in heating receive superheated gas

Ensures units in cooling receive sub-cooled liquid

 Indoor Units
Sense the space temperature

Contain a Linear Expansion Valve (LEV) that

automatically modulates

Allow the precise amount of refrigerant through the

heat exchanger

Filter and distributes air

 Controls System
Integrated sequence of operation

Takes input from the user and provides feedback to the system
 Recall
What system type requires a Branch Circuit Controller?

Which system type cannot provide cooling and heating simultaneously to

connected units?

Is there any difference between the controls offered for Heat Pump Systems versus
those offered for Heat Pump with Heat Recovery?
 VRF Design Considerations

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

 Equipment Layout

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

 Ceiling Space
20 Ton System

Rectangular Ductwork (DX System) 40 x 20

Round Ductwork (DX System) 30 Round

Piping (4-Pipe System) 3 CHWS&R, 3 HWS&R

Piping (VRF) 13/8 Gas 1 1/8 Liquid

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Rooftop Equipment Weight
80 Ton System
12,000

10,000

8,000
Equipment 6,000
Weight (lbs)

4,000

2,000

0
VAV RTU w/ SS VRF 4-Pipe Fan WSHP
Coil

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
Vertical Stack WSHPs

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
Water-source VRF

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Piping Lengths
There are piping considerations for:
Total System Piping Length
Intermediate Lengths
Elevation Differentials

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Condensation
Outdoor Units
Consider location of unit
Consider area drains and floor stands

BC Controller
Drain pipe connection

Indoor Units
Drain pipe connections
Some styles include standard condensate lift
mechanism
All styles include contact for condensate alarm/safety
switch

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Diversity

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

Solar Diversity
5 Tons
Morning

3 Tons 3 Tons
Morning Afternoon

5 Tons
Afternoon
What is the
block load?

What is the sum of

the zone peak
loads?

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
Occupant Diversity

WORK ROOM 103 OPEN OFFICE 101

CONFERENCE
105 COFFEE
105A

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
Occupant Diversity

WORK ROOM 103 OPEN OFFICE 101

What is the
CONFERENCE sum of the
105 COFFEE peaks?
105A
What is the
block load?

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
Building Diversity

HEATING

Waste Heat What

COOLING equipment is
running?

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Designing with Diversity
Connected Capacity:
Connect up to 150% of the outdoor unit capacity.

Actual Capacity:
The actual system capacity is the capacity of the
associated outdoor unit.

A system cannot provide more than 100% of the

outdoor units capacity.
Contact your local representative
when designing at greater than
110% connected capacity.

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Designing with Diversity
Example:
Indoor units totaling 14 tons can be connected
to a 12 ton outdoor unit
Connected Capacity = 14 Tons, 117%
Actual Capacity = 12 Tons, 100%

The maximum amount of cooling that can ever

be provided at a single instant is 12 tons
Contact your local representative
when designing at greater than
110% connected capacity.

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Ventilation

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

 Ventilation
Duct required Outside Air (OA) directly to space or indoor unit
Always calculate entering coil temperatures

Use Dedicated Outside Air System (DOAS),

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), or
both to temper the air

Adhere to local codes in designing ventilation

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Heating

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

 Special Considerations for Heating
Utilize manufacturers design software

Minimize connected capacity for colder

climates

Outside Air

Consider Building Warm-up

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Efficiency

Equipment Layout Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency

 Efficiency
INVERTER-driven compressor matches compressor speed
exactly to load

Simultaneous cooling and heating allows heat recovery

between zones

All efficiency values now available via AHRI Directory

http://www.ahridirectory.org

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 Efficiency
20 Ton System

Roof Top Air-Cooled Air-source Water-source

System Type
Units Chiller VRF VRF

IEER 11.5 - 17.7 19.6

EER 9.7 10.3 10.9 10.5

IPLV - 14.2 - -

SCHE - - 18.6 N/A

Equipment
Diversity Ventilation Heating Efficiency
Layout
 What are the benefits of VRF?
Two-pipe System

INVERTER Technology

Multiple Indoor Units

Variable Capacity System

Zoning System

Complete Control Offering