4.

CHILLERS FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Overview of the product
Chillers are a mainstream product in developed economies. Chillers are large cooling systems that
use the vapour compression cycle to cool water which is then circulated in a loop via a pipe network
around a building to provide cooling for indoor spaces via secondary air handling systems which are
located as required. The secondary air handling systems are not part of the chiller design and are
usually specified by building designers. The heat removed from the circulating chilled water loop is
discharged to the outside via a cooling tower or an air cooled condenser. The temperature of the
water loop supplied by chillers is typically between 4C and 9C. Chillers are commonly used in
larger commercial buildings.
Chillers are a global commodity and there is significant international trade. The main differences in
products are to suit local requirements regarding capacity and operating conditions, but generally
there are only small differences in product design at a regional level.
Chillers range in size from 10kW to more than 2MW. Chillers may have one or more compressors,
evaporators and/or condensers.

Comparison of energy performance test procedures

Key parameters to consider for efficiency testing and measurement
Chillers are a heat pump that that removes heat from a circulating water loop and discharges this heat
to the outside using the vapour compression cycle. The main components are a compressor,
refrigerant, an evaporator, a condenser, a water loop and a pump. Some systems use cooling towers
in association with the condenser.
The key parameters used for efficiency testing and measurement are the input energy (electricity) and
output (total heating or cooling capacity). These two parameters can be used to define overall
efficiency of the product during operation. The ratio of these two parameters is defined as the system
Coefficient of Performance (COP).
As with any refrigeration based system, the efficiency of a refrigeration system is affected by
indoor/outdoor temperatures and the temperature difference.
In order to obtain accurate comparative efficiency value of the chiller, the conditions for measurement
need to be carefully controlled, including outside conditions and water loop temperatures. Accurate
determination of the output of a chiller requires measurement of the water flow and temperature
difference in the water loop during operation.

Overview of the international test method

At this stage there is no international test method for chillers. ISO have approved a new work item
ISO/NP 19298 called Water chilling packages using the vapor compression cycle in July 2007 under ISO
TC86 SC6, although work on this standard has not yet advanced to the next stage.
However, this proposed standard is based on and is likely to be technically equivalent to the US
industry standard ARI 550/590 Water chilling packages using the vapor compression cycle which is
prepared and published by the US Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI).
In terms of efficiency the standard defines the Coefficient of Performance (COP) as the ratio of cooling
output (W) to electrical input (W) this variable is dimensionless (W/W).
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The standard is likely to define the following parameters for output, energy consumption and energy
efficiency (COP):

Standard rating conditions: defines the water inlet temperature for water cooled condensers
and air inlet temperature for air cooled condensers as well as the water temperature leaving
the evaporator (Condition A).

Part load rating conditions: defines the water inlet temperature for water cooled condensers
and air inlet temperature for air cooled condensers at load output conditions of 75%, 50% and
25% of the rated output of the system (Conditions B, C and D respectively).

The draft standard specifies test setup for energy and capacity determination.

Adequacy of the international test method

Although the international standard is only an early draft and has not yet been issued for public
comment, it will draw on the main international approaches to testing and rating for chillers currently
in force in the USA and Europe and is likely to be adequate in addressing the performance of the
product across a range of conditions. The values for Conditions A, B, C and D are separately reported,
which could allow a local weighting to be performed if required, although the COP at rated output
(Condition A) and the IPLV under ARI550/590 is widely used internationally as a comparative
performance value.

Regional differences in products and testing approaches

The two main regions that specify tests method for chillers are North America and Europe. North
American test methods are based on ARI550/590. Europe runs a certification program called Eurovent
which specifies test conditions for testing, rating and certification of chillers. The two methods are
generally quite similar in their requirements but there are some minor differences in the rating
conditions as noted below. Some of these differences are likely to have arisen from rounding of
imperial and metric units and it is hoped that these can be resolved during the development of the
relevant ISO standard. In any case, these current differences will not result in any significant
differences in energy efficiency measurements in most cases. The key differences between ARI and
Eurovent are set out below:
Table 4: North American SEER test conditions
Condition

ARI550/590

Eurovent

Liquid cooled condenser inlet

temperature

29.4C (85F)

30C

Liquid
cooled
operation condition

0.054 L/s/kW

5K temp drop

Air cooled condenser outdoor

air temperature

35C (95F)

35C

Water temperature leaving the

evaporator

6.7C (44F)

7C

0.043 L/s/kW

5K temp drop

Liquid
cooled
operation condition

condenser

condenser

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The ARI standard defines an Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV) which is defined as a weighted
average of the 4 test points COP values at Conditions A to D as follows:
IPLV = 0.01A + 0.42B + 0.45C + 0.12D
Where Condition A, B, C and D are COP at load outputs of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% respectively.
Under ARI, part load conditions are as follows:

Condition A: 29.4C (85F) inlet temperature for water cooled condensers and 35C (95F) for
air cooled condensers, 100% rated output.

Condition B: 23.9C (75F)inlet temperature for water cooled condensers and 26.7C (80F) for
air cooled condensers, 75% rated output.

Condition C: 18.3C (65F) inlet temperature for water cooled condensers and 18.3C (65F) for
air cooled condensers, 50% rated output.

Condition D: 18.3C (65F) inlet temperature for water cooled condensers and 12.8C (55F)
for air cooled condensers, 25% rated output.

Comparability of regional testing approaches

The two main systems that are in force, based on ARI and Eurovent, are quite comparable and will
give similar results for efficiency and capacity. Results determined under one of these rating systems
should be comparable with the other under most circumstances.

Subjective assessment of the level of international harmonisation for testing

Chillers are large specialised pieces of equipment that are generally used in commercial buildings.
Rating for energy efficiency is specified in North America, Europe and Australia. The two main rating
systems in force in North America and Europe are quite similar and fairly comparable, so subjectively
there is a reasonable degree of international harmonisation for the testing and rating of chillers.

Prospects and key directions for international harmonisation of testing

The two main testing approaches for chillers are fundamentally similar but with a number of small
differences. The impact of these differences in most case will be small. Some have arisen from
rounding between imperial and metric temperature measurements. While these differences have a
small impact, it is desirable that they be eliminated if possible in the longer term.
The best prospects for a harmonised international approach to the testing and rating of chillers is
through the development of the new standard ISO/NP 19298 Water chilling packages using the vapor
compression cycle. This work should be supported and key stakeholder input from North America and
Europe encouraged.

Comparison of energy efficiency metrics

Common Efficiency Metrics and Regional Approaches
The most widely used efficiency metric for chillers is Coefficient of Performance (COP). This measure
is essentially output power over input power and provides a direct measure of operating efficiency.
This is measured under defined operating conditions. The major test methods define conditions for
determination of COP at rated capacity (Condition A) under part load conditions of 75%, 50% and
25% of rated output (Condition B, C and D respectively). When stated with the cooling output and
testing conditions, the COP at these points provides all of the data required for efficiency
comparisons.

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COP at rated output is the primary comparative efficiency value for chillers. The Integrated Part Load
Value (IPLV), which weights data for all 4 test conditions, is also widely used as a comparative
efficiency value.
The IPLV is a pre-defined weighting of the efficiency of 4 load conditions to give and integrated
average annual efficiency. The weightings used in the standard IPLV formula may not suit all
applications and regions. However, it is widely used as an international benchmark for performance.
The separate reporting of COP at Conditions A to D would allow the standardised test outputs to be
weighted in a way that was more relevant to local conditions (if required) without the need for any
retesting.
COP at rated output and the IPLV are generally used together to define minimum energy
performance standards (MEPS) where applicable.

Performance Issues
The measurement of chiller energy efficiency is a relatively straight forward determination of output
energy over input energy. There only significant performance issue during operation is the fouling of
the evaporator and where applicable the condenser (where this is water cooled). The main standards
have allowances to estimate the performance degradation due to fowling during operation. These
range from standard fixed allowances to simulation approaches based on parameters such as
capacity, surface area of the heat exchanger and operating range of the liquids.

Comparability of efficiency metrics

At this stage, there is good comparability of efficiency data under the current North American and
European rating systems for chillers. To maintain flexibility at a regional level it is recommended that
values for each of the Conditions A to D be separately reported together with the IPLV values.

Recommended directions
Two major rating systems for chillers are in existence. While slightly different conditions are specified
in the North American and European systems, the practical differences in the measured efficiency
results will be small in most cases. Fortunately, this means that there is already a good level of global
harmonisation in the testing and reporting of chiller energy efficiency.
Part of the issue is that there is no international test procedure at this stage. However, work on an ISO
standard has been approved and it is hoped that this will draw on existing approaches in North
America and Europe to form the basis of a uniform global approach to testing and rating of chillers.
This should be supported as the basis for providing a basis for the global convergence of testing
approaches for chillers.

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