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Experience from energy optimisation in refrigeration and air-conditioning plants through field measurements.

Number: pap. n. 5

Author(s) : BERGLÖF K.

Summary

The paper presents the expanding experience of performance Inspections and practical experiences of optimisation through a systematic approach of measuring - analysing - optimisation - validation based on the “Internal method”. The method is used at commissioning, inspections, trouble shooting, maintenance, monitoring and in energy optimisation projects. The “Internal method” for Performance Inspections is based on thermodynamic analysis of the vapour compression process and has proven to be a cost effective method to optimise air-conditioning and refrigeration plants in hundreds of thousands of systems around the world. When measured in the field, few systems show the performance they are designed for and expected to have. Savings of 10-40% are possible without significant investments, in a majority of the analysed systems. In most cases the cost of the inspection is paid in a few months. A challenge is that before measurements the return on investment cannot be defined. Without a request from equipment owners, few consultants and contractors invest in tools and training to learn how to measure and analyse systems. There is no incentive to save on the customer's energy bill if the customer does not realise the value. Current legislation is too vague to put a pressure on the market to actually measure it. “Performance Contracting” and Energy Saving Companies are entering the market but often need to build competence and experience in measuring and analysing of HVAC equipment before they become effective in this sector. The saving potential from optimising existing systems is the most “low hanging fruit” to reduce the energy consumption in existing buildings. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2012) two-thirds of existing buildings will still be used in 2050 indicating the importance of optimising existing buildings and systems. This understanding is resulting in requirements like the EU´s for “Performance Inspections” on air-conditioning systems above 12 kW in the Energy Performance in Building Directive (EPBD, 2010) even if the interpretation of what these inspections involves vary widely. In most cases they are far from achieving the results anticipated e.g. validating that the system is operating efficiently. In USA and Canada there are many incentive programs through the utility companies to re-commission and optimise plants. Due to the ???? on the many markets still prevailing believe that it is necessary to apply the costly and challenging method to measure flow of air or water and small temperature differences with high accuracy there is often a reluctance to require costly measurements. The experienced high cost and difficulty to achieve information of a quality sufficient for optimisation holds back measurements. The Internal method eliminates the need of costly installations of flow meters and give more detailed performance information, not only on the system level but also component by component. Performance analysers based on the Internal method can be hooked up in 20-40 minutes on most heat pumps, refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. The method is capable of measuring capacity with an accuracy of +-7% and COP with +-5% for most compressor driven refrigeration/air-conditioning system. Experiences from different sectors are presented.

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Pages: 9 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Experience from energy optimisation in refrigeration and air-conditioning plants through field measurements.
  • Record ID : 30008715
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Compressors 2013: 8th International Conference on Compressors and Coolants.
  • Publication date: 2013/09/02

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