Review of Standards for Energy Performance of Chiller Systems Serving Commercial Buildings

Abstract

A prescriptive approach is primarily used to establish energy benchmarks for energy systems in buildings. This paper reviews national standards and guidelines for the energy performance of chiller systems which provide cooling energy in commercial buildings but their operation causes the major proportion of electricity consumption in the building sector. The standards reviewed are currently adopted in nine places (in alphabetical order): Australia, California, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, the EU, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the USA. Under standard rating conditions at full load operation, the minimum required coefficient of performance (COP) ranges from 2.40 to 3.06 for air-cooled chillers and from 3.80 to 6.39 for water-cooled chillers. Some standards state also the COP requirements at part load operation with integrated part load values or seasonal energy efficiency ratios. A classification scheme is provided in the EU and Chinese standards which helps labeling and certifying high efficient chiller products. Criteria for enhancing energy ratings of chiller systems are suggested.

Staying cool: The development of India's pioneering energy efficiency policy for chillers

“…The COP is the ratio of cooling output in kilowatts to electricity input at full load. The minimum COPs allowed in these countries range from 2.40 to 3.06 for air-cooled chillers and from 3.80 to 6.39 for water-cooled chillers, with the requirements varying significantly depending on the size of the chiller and the technology used (Yu, Chan, Sit, & Yang, 2014). The United States currently has the highest, or most stringent, MEPS (Yu et al, 2014(Yu et al, , p. 2780).…”

“…The minimum COPs allowed in these countries range from 2.40 to 3.06 for air-cooled chillers and from 3.80 to 6.39 for water-cooled chillers, with the requirements varying significantly depending on the size of the chiller and the technology used (Yu, Chan, Sit, & Yang, 2014). The United States currently has the highest, or most stringent, MEPS (Yu et al, 2014(Yu et al, , p. 2780). 4 In addition to specifying a minimum COP, the MEPS in the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the United States specify minimum energy performance according to seasonal metrics that seek to represent the actual efficiency of chillers operating at varying load levels.…”

“…China also uses IPLV, according to a test method specified in Chinese standards. 6 The European Union uses the European seasonal energy efficiency ratio, a seasonal metric similar to the IPLV but modified to approximate European climatic conditions according to a European Committee of Air Handling and Refrigeration (Eurovent) test method (Yu et al, 2014). 7 China and the European Union also have labeling programs for vapor compression chillers.…”

“…Authors' own elaboration, based on material in Yu et al (). With an update from the Chinese energy performance standard (GB 19577‐2015).…”

Análisis comparativo de la utilización de refrigerantes alternativos en un chiller

“…Los mismos deben ser analizados con la finalidad de contar con sistemas eficientes de alto valor de COP-Para esto se debe examinar el comportamiento del sistema y adaptarlo a las condiciones de trabajos reales con la finalidad de que los resultados puedan ser aplicados directamente en aplicaciones industriales, buscar mejoras en el rendimiento de cada elemento del sistema, analizar el comportamiento de los refrigerantes considerando que estos sean seguros para el medio ambiente, detectar averías y degradaciones que afectan al sistema (Bejarano, y otros, 2013) y analizar las condiciones del medio circundante y del fluido a refrigerar tomando en cuenta la temperatura a la que estos se encuentran. (Ruz, y otros, 2016) (Díaz Torres, 2014) (Yu, 2017) Entre los distintos sistemas de refrigeración, el más utilizado es el sistema de refrigeración por compresión de vapor (Franco Lijó, 2006) y entre los principales procesos que se lleva a cabo en este proceso se encuentran el proceso de compresión, condensación, expansión y evaporación. Este sistema es el que utiliza el equipo chiller para llevar a cabo el proceso de refrigeración.…”