2016 ASHRAE Winter Conference

This presentation will focus on the high level need for HVAC equipment, particularly VRF systems,  to participate in activities like demand response and help the grid operators manage the increasingly complex integrated grid.  With numerous new energy sources coming online at a rapid pace, like solar and wind, managing the elctric grid has become a significant challenge.  This presentation will set the stage for the remaning three presenters by elaborating on challenges.

Southern California Edision (SCE) has many HVAC demand response programs. VRF systems offer interesting alternatives that traditional HVAC systems cannot offer.  This presentation focuses on the potential based on conditions in California mainly from a program standpoint considering installed tonnage and various services offered by the VRF systems.  An aggregated approach , i.e. collecting all VRF systems together as a single load will also be discussed.

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are primarily associated with energy efficiency (EE) and superior customer comfort. The higher energy efficiency is achieved by utilizing variable speed compressors, modulating fans, electronic expansion valves and multitude of refrigerant management features. VRF systems, with their modulating components, onboard instrumentation and communications capabilities, are great candidates for implementing both EE and DR at the same time. This talk highlights the features of one of the manufacturers technical capabilities and how the existing features can be utilized to provide unparallel customer comfort as well as grid services to further improve reliability of our electrical grid.

Variable refrigerant flow systems are perfect candidates for providing energy efficiency and demand response at the same time.  This talk will elaborate on some existing DR enabled installations around the world including the US. Data gathered from various sites will be used to showcase the capabilities of the VRF systems for providing DR.