Variable Refrigerant Flow - VRF

The Comfort Conditioning Solution

Features and Benefits
Air Conditioning System
• The compressor is the highest power-consuming
component in the air-conditioning system

•• Expansion
Expansion valves,
valves,
fans, bypass
fans, bypass solenoid
solenoid
valves also
valves also affect
affect
system performance
system performance

• Component optimization increases performance. 1

What is a VRF System? VRF

• A system that provides

▪ Climate control & zoning
comfort
▪ Effective energy
consumption by means of
optimized inverter driven
scroll compressor &
temperature controls,
producing highly responsive
cooling and/or heating
2
What makes a VRF? VRF

• Outdoor units with single or multiple variable

speed DC compressors
• Single or multiple indoor units equipped with
temperature sensing devices
• A factory supplied
zone temperature
supervisory control,
GUI and networking
capabilities

3
VRF System & Inverter VRF
• The inverter reacts to indoor and outdoor
temperature fluctuation by varying the power
consumption and adjusting the compressor
speed to its optimum energy usage.
• The refrigerant is
compressed to the
required high
pressure level
• Inverter provides
superior energy
efficiency
performance 4
VRF Outdoor Fan Motor Control
• Multi stage fan speed operation provides:
• Input power savings, lower steps have lower
power consumption compared to higher steps.
• Optimizes condenser pressure
control to achieve desired
discharge pressure and
ensure optimum mass flow
through the system.
• Cycle stabilization provides
optimum efficiency as
compared to fix fan speed. 5
VRF Piping VRF

• Improves
refrigerant cycle
efficiency by
connecting
multiple indoor
units to a
common liquid
and suction line
through the use
of STA Separation Tube Assemblies and/or
Headers and EEV Electronic Expansion Valves
6
Reduces piping cost and work VRF

• STA and or header diverts the common flow of

refrigerant to an individual evaporator. The flow of
refrigerant is further metered by an EEV or
Electronic Expansion Valve.

7
Video
VRF

8
VRF Benefits VRF
• Less copper versus multi-split
• Eliminates most ductwork
• Quicker installation
• OEM software simplifies layout
• Long piping lengths
• Compact ductless system

9
Flexible piping design VRF

Suitable for apartment & office buildings too

Total piping length 377 – 540 Ft.*
Actual piping length 230 – 330 Ft.*

Height difference 100 – 165 Ft.*

100
* VARIES BY MANUFACTURER to
165 ft.
max.

10
Design freedom VRF
This extra-long piping system can also cope
with buildings of various shapes.
Rectangular type L type Square type

Indoor
units
Outdoor unit
Refrigerant piping

Actual max. piping length 230 ft,

Total max. piping length 377 ft*
*Varies by manufacturer
11
Design Software VRF

Piping Layout Remote Job

Control Costing
Selection

12
Advanced Computer Controlled VRF

• Low energy consumption

• Inverter regulates compressor to its optimum
energy usage
• Higher
refrigerant
performance
with less
power

13
Central Air Inefficiency
Central
• VRF systems allows
you to minimize
inefficient ductwork.
– Save money
– Improve comfort
– Protect health
– Save Space
– Reduce Noise

14
According to D.O.E.
Central

• “Typical duct systems lose 25 to 40 percent of

the heating or cooling energy put out by the
central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.”

• “Homes with ducts in a protected area such as a

basement may lose somewhat less than this,
while some other types of systems (such as
attic ducts in hot, humid climates) often lose
more.”
15
 Central Air Inefficiency Central

•• VRF
VRF
systems
systems
minimize
minimize
inefficient
inefficient
ductwork.
ductwork.
16
 Multi-Split vs. VRF System
• VRF systems allows you to minimize the refrigerant
path compared to a multi-zone mini-split.
Multi-Split VRF

17
The heart of a VRF system VRF

• Inverter driven DC scroll compressor(s) provides

highly responsive cooling and/or heating by quickly
varying in speed from 1,000 up to 6,000 rpm.
Scroll DC Inverter
Signal line
Compressor Control

Temperature Temperature
Sensor sensor
Indoor unit Indoor unit

Outdoor unit
Senses the temperature of each
room and optimizes operation.
18
What Zoning does for Efficiency VRF

• Why cool spaces you do not occupy?

• Individual zoning control of a VRF system
minimizes electrical usage.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50% Central
40% VRF
30%
20%
10%
0%
Kitchen Living Bed-1 Bed-2 Dining 19
Effective comfort at lower cost VRF
• Reacts to indoor and outdoor temperature
fluctuation by varying power consumption and
adjusting compressor speed to its optimum
energy usage to achieve desired set point quickly
and maintain it more closely.
Conventional Model Inverter
Set temperature Set temperature
Room temperature (deg.)

Room temperature (deg.)

40 min. Time 20 min. Time

Revolution of COMPRESSOR Revolution of COMPRESSOR
20
Variable Refrigerant Flow
VRF
• Conventional: Room temperature drops rapidly
when compressor turns OFF which result in an
unstable room temperature
Conventional Model Inverter
Set temperature Set temperature
3 deg.
Room temperature (deg.)

Room temperature (deg.)

1 deg.

Revolution of COMPRESSOR Revolution of COMPRESSOR

ON ON ON
OFF OFF

Time Time

• Inverter: Range of room temperature change is

small. Because after set temp is reached, compressor
will not shut off to control temp but will maintain temp
by decreasing or increasing revolution.
21
 Central Connectable Capacity VRF

• Central Air 100% • VRF 50% to 150%

Connectable Capacity Connectable Capacity

48,000 BTU

48,000 BTU 24,000 BTU

48,000 BTU
48,000 BTU 72,000 BTU

22
Connectable Capacity
• Ability to connect up to
24,000 BTU 150% of name plate rated
Apartment indoor units*
VRF
used only at
* Varies by manufacturer
night
• If all indoor units are
operated simultaneously
system will not produce
more than 110% of system
capacity

• Example A:
– 2-Story Building
Mixed Use. VRF
stretches square footage
covered by a single
48,000 BTU system when not all
Small Office areas are occupied
150% used only
Connectable simultaneously
during the day
23
Lack of Connectable Capacity
Multi-Split

Load Calculation 48,000 BTU Field Application 72,000 BTU

4K 18K
7K 5K
10K 9K 9K

12K 5K 5K
18K 9K 9K

• 6 tons applied where load only calls for 4 tons

• Higher equipment cost by installing two systems in
order to provide most rooms with individual control.
24
Example of Connectable Capacity VRF
Load calculation 48,000 BTU Actual 51,750 BTU with
without party quests all indoor units calling
6.75K 5.25K
10.5K 5.25K
4K
7K 5K
10K

12K 5K 5K 5.25K 5.25K

6.75K 6.75K

Field application 69,000 BTU Actual 48,000 BTU available

connectable capacity for party with bedroom units off
9K 7K 9K 7K
14K 7K 14K

9K 9K 7K 7K 9K 9K 25
Benefits of Connectable Capacity
Multi-Split VRF

9K 7K
18K 14K 7K
9K 9K

18K 9K 9K 7K 7K
9K 9K

6-Tons when only 4-Tons required Indoor unit for every room yet 4-Tons

• Reduced equipment cost by not installing additional

equipment when a system can be shared instead.
• The ability to flexible size for different loads.
• Stretch square footage covered by over-sizing and
reducing capacity at each indoor unit by design 26
VRF Benefits
VRF
Concept Central Air Multi-Split VRF System Benefit
Cools off Slowly Quicker, Quickest, Highly Greatest comfort
hot room Unresponsive Moderately responsive piping and Less temperature
compressor responsive piping compressor fluctuation
and compressor combination ½ the time
combination of a conventional unit

Refrigerant Short piping Long piping but Shorter piping run with Quicker cooling,
Cycle / Air run but great efficient air flow better refrigerant greater comfort,
Distribution efficiency loss with evaporator in distribution more stable room
in ductwork A/C space temperature

Energy Compressor Variable speed Variable speed Least energy

Consumption runs at its compressor but compressor at consumption with
maximum refrigerant flow optimum speed and greatest comfort
speed efficiency loss maximizes
refrigerant flow

Zoning 1 or 2 zones Up to 4 zones Up to 16 zones. Flexible zoning.

without Wireless or wired Wireless, wired, & Cool the spaces you
expensive remote group remotes occupy not the
zoning Inverter provides more spaces you don’t
controls stable room temp.

Connectible 100% 100% connectible Up to 150% Lower equipment 27

Capacity connectible connectible costs, more efficient
 Flexible Remote Control
Group Remote
Controller

Simple
Wired
Remote

Full Featured
Wired Remote
Control
Wireless Remote
28
Group Remote Controller

Wiring A

Power line/signal line

+ ground = 4 wires

Power line + ground /signal line + ground = 6 wires

Wiring B

Power line + ground /signal line + ground = 6 wires 29

 Wiring system
Wiring is simplified by using a daisy chain
approach. In this case wiring provides power
as well as communication signal in a
three wire harness.

30
Simplified Wiring

• NEC compliant
• Disconnect switch may be required
• Outdoor units requires 208/230V 40A single
phase or 3-phase, depends on BTU’s
• Indoor units powered from the outdoor unit using
3 wires and ground. Usually 14AWG.
• Indoor required two lines for power, typically
208/230 V single phase 15A.
• 3rd line used for networking and data
communication
31
 Mix and Match Flexibility Large and Small
Ceiling Cassettes
1/4 Liquid From 7-42K BTU
1/2 Gas

Duct Type Coils 1/4 Liquid

from 18K to 45K BTU 5/8 Gas

3/8 Liquid
3/4 Gas Condensing Unit
Combinations from
Compact Duct Coils 1/4 Liquid 2Tons to 31.5 Tons
from 7K to 18K BTU 3/8 Gas

3/8 Liquid
3/4 Gas
Wall Mount Coils
from 7K to 36K BTU

1/4 Liquid
5/8 Gas 3/8 Liquid, 3/4 Gas 32
Piping system
Refrigerant flow is accumulated by using
STA separation tube assemblies in reverse
and then dividing refrigerant flow to as many
as 48 indoor units

33
 VRF

1. Short Term Stop Gap Method

• All manufacturers test up to five evaporators under an agreed
upon test method to prove minimum EER efficiency
(We estimate 1 year in development)

2. Interim Test Method

• Develop test method for new ductless multi and VRF test
standard based on 210/240.(Tentatively draft ARI1230)
(We estimate 2 years in development)

3. Long Term Method

• Computer simulation through OEM software approved by ARI to
demonstrate efficiency regardless of combination
(We estimate 3 years in development)
34
 Two Temperature
Two Temperature Controlled
Controlled Zones
Zones
Central One Air
Air Flow
Flow Settings
Settings per
per Zone
Zone
One
Equipment
1 - Outdoor unit
1 - Indoor unit
THERMOSTAT 2
2 – Dampers
2 – Thermostats

HALL
8 Because room
temperature
sensor is
THERMOSTAT 1
housed in
thermostat,
the temp
of only two
rooms can be
controlled.
35
 Individual Temperature
Individual Temperature Control
Control
VRF Individual Air
Individual Air Flow
Flow Settings
Settings

Equipment:
Equipment:
1-Outdoor
1- Outdoorunit
unit
88--Indoor
Indoorunits
units
88--Remote
Remotecontrols
controls

Each indoor
Each indoor
9
HALLWAY

units has
units has anan
individual
individual
remote control
remote control
and aa room
and room
temperature
temperature
sensor
sensor
36
 NoIndividual
No Individualtemperature/air
temperature/airflow
flowsettings
settings
Central

Because setset
8 Because
temperature isis
temperature
matched to
matched to
living room,
living room,
the ideal
the ideal
temperature
temperature
cannot be
cannot be
selected for
selected for
other rooms.
other rooms.

37
 Individualtemperature/air
Individual temperature/airflow
flowsetting
setting
VRF

9 Individual units
Individual units
with temperature
with temperature
sensors in
sensors in each
each
room provide
room provide
comfortable
comfortable
HALL
separate room
separate room
temperatures
temperatures
matched to
matched to the
the
room’s use.
room’s use.

38
 No Individual
No Individual temperature/air
temperature/air flow
flow setting
setting
Central Heat-sensitive adults
present in living room
Cold-sensitive infant
Present in the bedroom

8 Individual air flow

cannot be selected
because there is one set
air flow for all rooms.

8 Loud fan sound, rooms

nearest indoor unit
especially noisy,
because large fan
creates large air flow.

Whentemperature
When temperatureandandair
airflow
floware
areset
setto
toaccommodate
accommodateinfant
infantininbedroom,
bedroom,
peopleininother
people otherrooms
roomsare
aretoo
toohot
hotbecause
becausesetting
settingare
aresame
sameininall
allrooms.
rooms.
39
VRF
Temperature
9 and air flow
can be
individually
set according
to the room
usage
conditions.

Quiet
9 operation as
low as 23db
40
Central Changing Sun Load
8 When direct sunlight or other disturbances
change room load, system response for individual
rooms is impossible because set temperature
matched to living room.
A.M. P.M.

41
VRF Changing Sun Load
When the heat load changes by direct sunlight or
9 other disturbance, settings can be changed for
each room. All the rooms can be kept comfortable.
A.M. P.M.

42
 Time to Reach Set Point
Central Ex: When returning home in the summer VRF

8 Cool air also flows to unoccupied

rooms so it takes time to reach set 9
Full capacity concentrated at
operating indoor units located
temperature. in the rooms in which people

8 The farther the room is from the

indoor unit, the poorer the cooling.
returning home congregate,
other units turned off.
Large amounts of cool air flow to
the outlets nearest indoor unit. 9 evenly.
Each room cooled quickly and
43
Central
Duct Maintenance

After cooling stopped When cooling begins

8 Mold is easily produced

with the condensed water 8 Mold spores sticking to
dust are blown into room
as the nutrient

8 Since the area of the duct

is large; a large amount
8 Inaccessible ducts are
difficult to clean or
of mold is produced. remove mold. 44
 Duct Maintenance
VRF

After cooling stopped When cooling begins

Indoor units installed in
9 Small amount of
condensation form on 9 each room with small duct
each indoor unit (duct) area. Mold production and
Since the area of the dust are suppressed.
9 duct is small; mold
production is minimized. 9 Accessible ducts make
periodic cleaning easy
45
preventing mold production
VRF - Precise Modulation
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)
technology provides effective comfort
with low energy consumption.

The operational savings

come from the zoning
because only occupied
spaces are conditioned.

The work of the refrigerant is adjusted

with an inverter & and the flow further
gauged with the EEV 46
 Thermal Expansion Valve TXV
• Susceptible to valve hunting: overfeeding and
starving of refrigerant flow to the evaporator.
• Hunting can be reduced by relocating the
sensing bulb to a better location

TXVOperation
TXV Operationisis
TotallyIndependent
Totally Independentof of
CompressorOperation
Compressor Operation

47
 Lack of TXV Integration
• What standard TXVs do not do:
– Control evaporator pressure
– Cycle the compressor
– Control running time
– Control room temperature
• Three main working forces on the TXV are:
– Remote bulb or sensing bulb pressure (opening
force)
– Spring pressure (closing force)
– Evaporator pressure (closing force)
48
Thermal Expansion Valve TXV
TXV

Evaporator
Condenser

Compressor

• As evaporator load increases, available

refrigerant will boil off more rapidly. If it
is completely evaporated prior to exiting the
vapor will continue to absorb heat (superheat).
49
TXV & Superheat
• Super heat is heat added to a
substance above its saturation
temperature. The amount of STOP
super heat in a system is a
concern.
• To little: liquid refrigerant
entering compressor washes
out the oil causing premature failure
• To much: valuable evaporator space
is wasted and possibly causing
compressor overheating problems.
50
EEV – Positioning System
• EEV function is to maintain the pressure
differential and also to distribute the right
amount of refrigerant to each indoor unit.
• Fine control on the refrigerant flow
provides a superior level of room
temperature control & ensures no wastage
of energy
EEV is responding
directly to room
temperature and
room load 51
EEV – Positioning System
• EEV = Stepper Motor + Expansion Valve
• Stepper motor is a brushless, synchronous
electric motor that can divide a full rotation into a
large number of steps, 500 steps/rev
• Primary characteristic is its ability to rotate a
prescribed small angle (step) in response to
each control pulse
applied to its
windings

52
EEV – Positioning System
• Expansion valve is the component that controls
the rate at which liquid refrigerant can flow into
an evaporator coil
• Control algorithm is continuously providing
signals to the EEV to open or close by small
amounts to vary the amount of refrigerant being
delivered to the
evaporator meeting
targeted superheat.

53
Thermistors
• A type of resistor used to measure temperature
changes, relying on the change in its resistance
with changing temperature.

54
Control Loop Components
• Measurement
By a sensor (thermistor) connected to
the refrigerant cycle or the “space"
• Decision
Made in Advanced Computer
Controller
• Action
Taken through an output device
("actuator") such as the stepper motor
in the EEV or Variable speed inverter
compressor
55
Control Loop at Local Evaporator

• The controller takes a measured value from the

space (by means of a thermistor) and compares
it with a reference SETPOINT value.
• The difference (or "error" signal) is then used to
adjust a system component in order to bring the
spaces' measured value back to its desired
SETPOINT.
Setpoint + error
Σ
- Room temperature
56
Control loop at local evaporator
• The digital controller can adjust space outputs
based on the HISTORY and RATE OF
CHANGE of the error signal, which gives more
accurate and stable control.

57
 Controller’s algorithm

Controller uses 3 correcting calculations”

• Proportional control to improve the rise time
• Integral control to eliminate the steady-state error
• Derivative control to improve the overshoot
based on the rate of change of the error 58
 PID Calculations
P: Handles immediate error, the error is multiplied by a
Proportional constant P, and added to controlled variable.
I: Controller output is proportional to the amount of time the
error is present. Integral action eliminates offset. It looks at
the history of the error signal
D: Controller output is proportional to the rate of change of the
measurement or error. Controller output is calculated by the
rate of change of the measurement with time.

59
So what’s an Inverter?
• An inverter controls the operating speed of
a DC motor by controlling the frequency
and voltage of the power supplied to the
motor.
• An inverter provides the controlled power.
In most cases, the inverter includes a
rectifier so that DC power for the inverter
can be provided from mains AC power.

60
Inverter Principle
• Bridge Rectifier
Provides the same polarity of output voltage for
any polarity of the input voltage. In other words,
converts alternating current (AC) input into
direct current (DC) output.
Diodes are used to rectify AC by blocking the
negative or positive portion of the waveform

61
 • Alternating current
Diode Bridge (AC) whose magnitude
and direction vary
cyclically (60Hz)
• Basic Operation:
current flows to the right
along the upper colored
path to the output, and
Load
returns to the supply via
the lower one.
• If supplied current
direction changes output
current direction remains
the same, DC
• Result: Negative part of
the waveform has been
eliminated
62
Inverter Principle
• Smoothing Condenser
used to smooth the ripple voltage present
in a pulsating DC voltage output of a
power supply rectifier.
• Most modern electronic devices require a
steady DC supply

63
Inverter Block Diagram

64
 VRF
Inverter Control Video

65
Inverter Principle
• IPM (Inverter Power Module)
It is composed of 6 transistors and drives the
motor by high speed signal switching.
• The drive voltage signal is transferred to the
drive circuit from a microcomputer, and varies
the supply frequency to the motor (PWM
system) to rotate the motor.
• Currently, insulated gate bipolar transistors
IGBT’s are used in most inverter circuits

66
PWM Pulse Width Modulation
• Signal involves the modulation of its duty cycle, to
control the amount of power sent to a load.
• Many digital circuits can generate PWM signals
outputs to control an electrical motor.
• Usually use a counter that increments periodically
and is reset at the end of every period of PWM.
• If counter value is more than the reference value,
the PWM output changes state from high to low.

67
PWM

68
DC Inverter Control Function
Basic Circuit of 3-Phase Inverter

69
Why do I want an Inverter?
• Benefits of an Inverter Air Conditioner:
– Compared to the common On-Off controlled
compressor; the inverter controlled
compressor is able to run at the proper
revolution to provide the best efficiency and
reduce losses.
– When the maximum capacity is not required,
the compressor revolution is decreased. This
means the input power decreases too, which
results in increased system efficiency.

70
 Low Electric Consumption
Power balance control technology achieves high
operational efficiencies by detecting low pressure and
high pressure and precisely controls the optimum
refrigerant condition via refrigerant flow rate.

Efficient DC inverter scroll compressor varies capacity

according to the load 71
Power Oil Return
• Oil return is important to
ensure that there is adequate
lubrication for the compressor,
especially during part load
operation.
• Reducing oil logging in the
system improves heat
exchange efficiency in the
condenser and evaporators
saving energy.

72
Effective use of heat exchanger
The outdoor unit can achieve the most efficient
operation by matching the heat exchanger of the
outdoor unit to the systems requirements and the
required load capacity of the conditioned space.
Example

31.5 Tons of available

heat exchangers

9 HP of compressors
by using 3 outdoor
units together
Max. 10.5 HP Max. 10.5 HP Max. 10.5 HP

73
Operation / Comfort
• Quiet operation (varies by manufacturer)
Normal operation mode: 57dB(A)
Night operation mode 54 dB(A)
• Inverter compressor makes system even quieter
when it is operating at slower RPMs

74
 Central remote controller

Up to 400 indoor units or 64 groups can be

controlled. Central remote controller can control
the system by selecting All Groups, User Defined
Groups or Individual Remote Controller Groups
75
Central remote controller

Central control
by tenant

Central remote Central remote

controller controller
Individual control

76
 PC Control
Rotating 3-D display Floor layout display List table display

Calculating electricity charges

Up to 400 indoor
units or 400 groups PC controller
can be controlled

Operation control Schedule control Operating record

77
PC controller (Calculating electricity charges)
Each tenant bill can be made by calculating function of PC controller

Power supply

Meter Tenant bill

Electricity company
Tenant-E

Tenant bill
Tenant-D

Total Electricity bill Tenant bill

Tenant-C

Tenant bill
Apportioned Tenant-B
charges
Tenant bill
PC controller Tenant-A

The accumulated refrigerant time and indoor unit capacity.

78
BMS compatibility

BMS: Building Management System

79
Service tool (Software)

Extensive monitoring and analyzing functions for maintenance

Simple connection by transmission adaptor and RS-232C cable

(RS-232C cable field supplied).

80
 VRF - Summary
• Climate control & zoning comfort
• Effective energy consumption
• Inverter driven scroll compressor &
digital temperature controls,
• Produces a highly responsive cooling
and/or heating.
• Cooling/Heating only on demand
81
 Thank You
for your time and
attention.
We hope you will
consider VRF
technology for
your next project

82