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sing variable frequency drives (VFDs) for compressor motors in large chillers is a newer application than using VFDs with blowers (discussed in last
months column). VFDs are being used with centrifugal compressors and screw
compressors, the two major compressor categories for large chillers.
Applying a variable speed drive to the
compressor provides energy-efficient
capacity modulation. While the focus of
this series has been on using VFDs for
induction motors, high-speed brushless dc
motors are an important class of motors.
Such motors generally are used to directly
drive high-speed centrifugal compressors.
Large tonnage chillers generally are
capable of capacity modulation, which
enables the chiller to run continuously
while delivering constant-temperature
chilled water as the cooling load varies
from maximum to minimum design load.
The traditional methods of capacity
modulation have been:
For centrifugal compressors, prerotation vanes, also called inlet guide vanes,
reduce capacity while avoiding surge, down
to around 40%. Hot gas bypass (directing
compressor discharge gas to the evaporator)
is used to reduce capacity further.
Screw compressors have been
equipped with slide valves that simultaneously vary the inlet displacement and the
discharge displacement, maintaining a relatively constant built-in volume compression
ratio, typically modulating down to about
30% of full load before hot gas bypass is
needed for further capacity reduction.
Staged operation of multiple compressors (or multiple chillers) has been
58
ASHRAE Journal
June 2010
100F
90F
80F
70F
Water-Cooled
60F
Air-Cooled
50F
IPLV Weighting: 12%
40F
0%
45%
25%
50%
Load
42%
75%
1%
100%
ASHRAE Journal
June 2010
Market Factors
Variable speed drives can offer significant energy savings when applied to the
right chiller applications. Also, chillers
with VFDs can exhibit improved reliability
and life as a result of an improved power
factor and soft starting of the chiller motor.
However, real energy savings tend to be
application-specific. VFDs can give the
perception of energy savings when the IPLV
formula is applied, particularly in buildings
with multiple chillers, which is generally
the case.1 High-load operating points are
noticeably more important than the IPLV
metric may indicate.1 Therefore, a more
involved modeling process is necessary to
determine the cost effectiveness of installing one or more VFDs in a chiller plant.
The cost of VFD technology has dropped
substantially over the past 30 years, and in
many new designs, VFD technology is
included in the base-unit design.2 Several
geographic regions offer rebates for the
application of VFD technology.2
References
1. Geister, R. and M. Thompson. 2009. A
closer look at chiller ratings. ASHRAE Journal
51(12):2232.
2. Communication with Johnson Controls.
3. Energy Eff iciency and Renewable
Energy. 2010. 2009 Buildings Energy Data
Book. U.S. Department of Energy. http://
buildingsdatabook.eere.energy.gov/.
4. EIA. 2003. Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey, Table B40. Energy
Information Administration, U.S. Department
of Energy. http://tinyurl.com/CBECS2003.
5. Furlong, J. and F. Morrison. Optimization of water-cooled chillercooling tower
combinations, CTI Journal 26(1):1219.
http://tinyurl.com/CTIFurlong.
6. AHRI Standard 550/590-2003, 2003 Standard for Performance Rating of Water-Chilling
Packages Using the Vapor Compression Cycle.
7. 2008 ASHRAE HandbookHVAC Systems
and Equipment. Chapter 44, Motors, Motor
Controls, and Variable-Speed Drives.
ASHRAE Journal
June 2010