Tuesday September 26 th 2017 Main Program: Overview and Discussion of VRF Technology JS Rancourt DXS New England [Daikin] Greg Hosselbarth Mitsubishi Electric
AGENDA Introduction - Global VRF 101 Energy Efficiency & Operational costs Capital costs VRF in New England Local Market Trends How to layout a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
Your presenter : Jean-Samuel (JS) Rancourt Principal of DXS New England, an HTS company Specializes exclusively in Daikin VRV technology js.rancourt@dxseng.com
2001 1987 1982 1973 Global oil crises 1979 New energy efficiency laws passes in Japan 1980 Chiller design engineers challenged with making a higher efficiency chiller 1982-1984 The worlds first VRF Systems are launched in Japan 1984-1987 VRF introduced to European and Middle Eastern markets Early 2000 s VRF is introduced to North America
82,000 sq.ft. 100,000 sq.ft. 1,105,000 sq.ft. MAJOR WORLDWIDE VRF INSTALLS VRF : 3-6,000 Tons 420,000 sq.ft. 1,306,000 sq.ft. 700,000 sq.ft.
VRF s delay to North America Low utility rates Existing AC market / solutions ASHRAE 15 Fear of distributed refrigerant Fear of air source heat pump heating
Most major North America HVAC brands are now partnered with an Asian based VRF manufacturer [outright acquisitions, IP acquisitions, joint ventures or private labelling] Some major VRF manufacturers sell into North America under their own brand VRF is continuing to be the fastest growing segment of the North American HVAC market
What changed since early 2000 s? Utility rates Still relatively low, but in general, focus on energy efficiency is increasing Large incentives now helping offset the current utility rates ASHRAE 15 The RCL limit was doubled since then (26 lbs / 1000 vs 13 lbs / 1000) The requirements can be handled if designed properly Fear of air-source heat pump heating There is now good precedence of VRF handling all heating requirements effectively and efficiently (in even colder climates) Fear of distributed refrigerant Better understanding of R-410a, ASHRAE 15, and of the risks Precedence VRF is no longer the new technology in North America Large, very large buildings being fully served by VRF, all over the USA & Canada
VRF Applications K-12 Office Medical Office Building Hospital / Healthcare (critical cooling or admin areas) Residence Assisted living Condo amenity / retail / podiums Condo suites (low / mid / high rise) University Hotel Retail WWTPs
AGENDA Introduction - Global VRF 101 Energy Efficiency & Operational costs Capital costs VRF in New England Local Market Trends How to layout a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
VRF 101 VRF technology delivers all heating and cooling needs to your building via outdoor machines directly connected to indoor fan coils using small refrigerant pipes.
VRF 101 Choose from a long list of indoor unit options Exposed, concealed, horizontal, vertical etc. Each indoor unit has an Electronic Expansion Valve which Throttles refrigerant flow based on actual load. Indoor units
VRF 101 Small copper pipes (1/4 to 1-3/8 ). Moves heat around with 10 times less fluid than water And with 180 times less fluid than air. Reduce ductwork substantially; size them only for fresh air. Small flexible copper pipes vs larger water piping Refrigerant Piping
VRF 101 Outdoor machines Inverter (variable speed) scroll compressors. Central controller monitors and reacts to all indoor unit expansion valves, and throttles inverter compressor. Hence, Variable Refrigerant Flow
Heat Pump vs Heat Recovery VRF Heat Pump System is either in heating OR cooling Ie. Indoor units cannot provide cooling if system is in heating *Fast & Automatic system switch over* Indoor units still have independent set point control Heat Heat Heat
Heat Pump vs Heat Recovery VRF Heat Recovery Indoor units can heat or cool independently Transfer of heat Heat Cool Fan Only
Heat Pump vs Heat Recovery VRF 2-Pipe Traditional 3-pipe Multi Port 3-Pipe
One centralized condenser water riser. Another VRF option Water-Cooled VRF A water-source heat pump system with centralized high efficiency VRF compressors. Ideal for Hi-Rise residential, hotel and office construction. Ideal for extreme cold climate. Compatible with Geothermal Centralized VRF compressors on each floor Small refrigerant pipes from compressors to VRF fan coils
Supply Air 8 deep horizontal fan coil Return Air
AGENDA Introduction - Global VRF 101 Energy Efficiency & Operational costs Capital costs VRF in New England Local Market Trends How to layout a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
Let s talk about Energy Efficiency VRF vs Conventional systems Energy Efficiency Operational Costs More efficient than most Need a good optimized central plant to beat VRF Lower than most Need a good optimized central plant to beat VRF Cooling Heating MUCH more efficient than any other alternative (by 3X, 4X, 5X etc.) ***Not necessarily lower than other systems*** VRF uses a different and more expensive fuel: Electricity More efficient than all Usually lower or equal
VRF Energy Efficiency AHRI 1230 EER (95F) IEER COP (47 F) COP (17 F) SCHE System full load cooling operation System seasonal cooling efficiency Full Load Heating Performance at 47 F Full Load Heating Performance at 17 F Simultaneous Cooling and Heating Efficiency (approx 50-50%) In 2010, IEER (Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio) replaced IPLV (Integrated Part Load Performance) as the means to measure part load performance of commercial HVAC systems over 65,000 Btu/h https://www.ahridirectory.org/ahridirectory/pages/vrfhp/defaultsearch.aspx
VRF Energy Efficiency AHRI 1230 Typical VRF HP ASHRAE 90.1 2013
Electric Heat Pump heating in our Climate Energy efficiency of electric heat pumps come from the high COPs COP at -13 F: ~2 Blended average COP in our climate is ~3 *** We need an icop! *** Heating Coefficient of Performance at 47 F, 17 F, and -13 F
AGENDA Introduction - Global VRF 101 Energy Efficiency & Operational costs Capital costs VRF in New England Local Market Trends How to layout a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
Let s talk about capital costs VRF vs Conventional systems Equipment Cost Installation costs High compared to global VRF equipment prices Early 2000 s 2017 All imported, low competition VRF equipment prices have dropped and reached global levels Very high Contracting community unfamiliar with VRF and pricing Continuously dropping and slowly getting in line with overseas VRF install costs Need a contractor with VRF install experience VRF is now much more price competitive than it used to be
4-Pipe Fan Coil Water-Source Heat Pumps 2-Pipe Fan Coil Capital Cost Per Unit $ Water-Cooled VRF Air-Cooled HR VRF Air-Cooled HP VRF 100 Tons (~50k sq.ft.) Size of building 1,000 Tons (~500k sq.ft)
Massachusetts Largest VRF incentives in the country MassCEC VRF Rebate Program [Paid to building owner] Motivation: Clean Heating, green house gas reduction Funding: $30M from 2015-2020 VRF program launch: April 2017 Rebate amounts: $800-$1,200 / Ton (up to $1,400 for public/non-profit and $2,000 for affordable housing) Mass Save VRF Rebate Program [upstream] Motivation: From utilities, kw reductions Funding: Not specified VRF program launch: September 2017 Rebate amounts: $250 / Ton
AGENDA Introduction - Global VRF 101 Energy Efficiency & Operational costs Capital costs VRF in New England Local Market Trends How to layout a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
Variable Refrigerant Flow Greg Hosselbarth Regional Manager - Commercial Sales Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating 508-688-9836 ghosselbarth@hvac.mea.com
Agenda VRF in New England Local Market Trends Lay out a competitive system Refrigerant Safety Code
The local progression of VRF Spot Heating and Cooling Energy conscious owners Historic Renovations General New Construction and Retrofits Electrification
The local progression of VRF VRF as sole source heat Inverter driven compressor efficiency LEED Net Zero Spot Heating and Cooling Energy conscious owners Historic Renovations General New Construction and Retrofits Electrification
The local progression of VRF Refrigerant piping vs. ductwork Spot Heating and Cooling Energy conscious owners Historic Renovations General New Construction and Retrofits Electrification
The local progression of VRF Cost competitive with traditional systems Easy to zone/control Base Building/TI Spot Heating and Cooling Energy conscious owners Historic Renovations General New Construction and Retrofits Electrification
Local Market Trends Greenhouse gas reduction Net-Zero Passive House Living Building Challenge Spot Heating and Cooling Energy conscious owners Historic Renovations General New Construction and Retrofits Electrification
Laying out VRF for competitive bidding
Laying out VRF for competitive bidding
Selection Software
Schedule Corrected Capacity
Schedule job specific accessories
Execution Specs
ASHRAE 15/34
What is ASHRAE 15?
What is ASHRAE 34?
RCL Refrigerant Concentration Limit the refrigerant concentration limit, in air, determined in accordance with this standard and intended to reduce the risks of acute toxicity asphyxiation and flammability hazards in normally occupied, enclosed spaces RCL can be expressed in ppm v/v g/m3 lb/mcf (or lb/1000 ft3)
Determination of RCL International Mechanical Code IMC-2006 sets R-410A RCL as 10 lbs/mcf IMC-2009 revisions raises RCL to 25 lbs/mcf ISO-5149 ISO-5149 sets R-410A RCL as 18.7 lbs/mcf ASHRAE 15 ASHRAE 15 does not reference R-410A ASHRAE 15 references ASHRAE 34 ASHRAE 34 sets R-410A RCL as 26 lbs/mcf
Refrigerant Management Example Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
Refrigerant Management Example Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room 12ton Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
RCL Calculation
Option 1 - Separate small rooms Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room 12ton Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
Option 2: Split Refrigerant Circuit Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room 6ton 6ton Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
Option 3: Increase Volume with Connected spaces Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room 12ton HVAC ductwork Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
Option 3: Increase Volume with Connected spaces Conference Room Cubicle Area Electrical Room Janitor Closet Permanent opening Lobby/ Waiting Room Open Work Room 12ton HVAC ductwork Office #1 Office #2 Bathroom Bathroom
Connected Spaces ISO: A total opening area more than 0.15% of the floor area at a low position with another room/space, the two rooms/space are considered as one ASHRAE: Permanent Openings or HVAC ducts
Alternative Option Use less piping Less piping = Less Charge 100ft of main piping could add 10-20lbs of refrigerant
Questions??