VRF Chiller

Merits Demerits Merits Demerits

Different IDU options can be used like Hi-wall Complex system architecture, large
unit, cassette unit, concealed unit, ducted
type units and so on
Good option for providing air conditioning to
apartments / villas, small installations where Access to ODUs is necessity as all the
in the complexity of the system (a major
demerit of this system) can be kept to a
minimum.
Operation is very simple
Technology
With the current available options, one can
reach up to LEED-Gold rating
Higher Cost
The most matured technology with the
amount of refrigerant piping running Availability of water is a must
history of over 6 decades
around in conditioned space.
Requires additional space for plant
International standard is referred for room for chillers, AHU rooms and
maintenance work required will be mostly
performance evaluation – AHRI 550/590 space for mounting the cooling
on the ODUs.
towers.
With proper system design and installing
multiple chillers, even in case of high
Will not be of much benefit where the Trained manpower is required for
diversity,chillers become a good option
cooling load has limited diversity operating the central chiller plant.
due to their good efficiency even at part
load conditions.
Can be hazardous for the occupants, being
refrigerant circulated through pipes,
susceptible to leakages, with the Project size is not the constraint at all
refrigerant possibility of entering the
conditioned space.
Non-hazardous for the occupants, as
Highly skilled labour required for
water is circulated throughout the
installation and commissioning and
refrigeration circuit, no chance of
maintenance, especially to identify and
hazardous material entering the
correct leakages.
conditioned space.
Advantage on efficiency can be
Different evaluation standards are referred
multiplied by using Thermal storage; and
for performance evaluation
usage of differential tariff.
Limitation on CFM delivered inside the
space, up to 350CFM / TR, can be a serious
limitation from indoor air quality as air
circulated can be insufficient.
Lower Cost

System life cycle analysis

VRF system essen ally requires lot of electrical &electronic controls Does not require complex electrical – electronic controls
Most of the controls are fitted in the ODUs panel board Refrigeration network for the system to operate and for the capacity modulation
Needs communication cable to run all the way through from outdoor boxes till each & Circulation of water to the AHUs is also a very simple system and all the designer
every indoor unit to exchange electronic signals between ODUs and each IDU needs to adhere to is simple piping rules

System Architecture

Oil Management
Oil recovery issue chillers have an in-built oil management system
Refrigerant flood back
Reliability
In such duty conditions, many a times, system may run into issues if due care is not
Liquid flooding is not an issue at all, as the system is properly designed and only
taken. In that case the compressors see flooding of liquid refrigerant that eventually
the amount of refrigerant required is circulated, rest stays in the condenser.
leads to compressor motor burn out, mechanical breakage of the compressors, etc.