Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study

Kim, Dongsu; Cox, Sam J.; Cho, Heejin; Im, Piljae

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049

Title: Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study

Abstract

With increased use of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems in the U.S. building sector, interests in capability and rationality of various building energy modeling tools to simulate VRF systems are rising. This paper presents the detailed procedures for model calibration of a VRF system with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) by comparing to detailed measured data from an occupancy emulated small office building. The building energy model is first developed based on as-built drawings, and building and system characteristics available. The whole building energy modeling tool used for the study is U.S. DOE’s EnergyPlus version 8.1. The initial model is, then, calibrated with the hourly measured data from the target building and VRF-DOAS system. In a detailed calibration procedures of the VRF-DOAS, the original EnergyPlus source code is modified to enable the modeling of the specific VRF-DOAS installed in the building. After a proper calibration during cooling and heating seasons, the VRF-DOAS model can reasonably predict the performance of the actual VRF-DOAS system based on the criteria from ASHRAE Guideline 14-2014. The calibration results show that hourly CV-RMSE and NMBE would be 15.7% and 3.8%, respectively, which is deemed to be calibrated. As a result, the whole-building energy usagemore »« less

Authors:

Kim, Dongsu ^[1]; Cox, Sam J. ^[1]; Cho, Heejin ^[1];

^[2]

Mississippi State Univ., Starkville, MS (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Publication Date:: 2017-10-16

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1409253

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1549388

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Energy and Buildings

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 158; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; Variable refrigerant flow; Dedicated outdoor air system; Building simulation; Calibration

Citation Formats


                    Kim, Dongsu, Cox, Sam J., Cho, Heejin, and Im, Piljae. Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049.

Copy to clipboard


                    Kim, Dongsu, Cox, Sam J., Cho, Heejin, & Im, Piljae. Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049

Copy to clipboard


                    Kim, Dongsu, Cox, Sam J., Cho, Heejin, and Im, Piljae. Mon .  
"Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1409253.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1409253,

  title        = {Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study},

  author       = {Kim, Dongsu and Cox, Sam J. and Cho, Heejin and Im, Piljae},

  abstractNote = {With increased use of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems in the U.S. building sector, interests in capability and rationality of various building energy modeling tools to simulate VRF systems are rising. This paper presents the detailed procedures for model calibration of a VRF system with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) by comparing to detailed measured data from an occupancy emulated small office building. The building energy model is first developed based on as-built drawings, and building and system characteristics available. The whole building energy modeling tool used for the study is U.S. DOE’s EnergyPlus version 8.1. The initial model is, then, calibrated with the hourly measured data from the target building and VRF-DOAS system. In a detailed calibration procedures of the VRF-DOAS, the original EnergyPlus source code is modified to enable the modeling of the specific VRF-DOAS installed in the building. After a proper calibration during cooling and heating seasons, the VRF-DOAS model can reasonably predict the performance of the actual VRF-DOAS system based on the criteria from ASHRAE Guideline 14-2014. The calibration results show that hourly CV-RMSE and NMBE would be 15.7% and 3.8%, respectively, which is deemed to be calibrated. As a result, the whole-building energy usage after calibration of the VRF-DOAS model is 1.9% (78.8 kWh) lower than that of the measurements during comparison period.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049},

  journal      = {Energy and Buildings},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 158,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2017},

  month        = {10}

}

Copy to clipboard

Journal Article:

Free Publicly Available Full Text

Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Publisher's Version of Record

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.10.049

Other availability

Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journal

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 3 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Works referenced in this record:

Achieving better energy-efficient air conditioning – A review of technologies and strategies
journal, April 2013

Chua, K. J.; Chou, S. K.; Yang, W. M.
Applied Energy, Vol. 104
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.10.037

Variable refrigerant flow systems: A review
journal, July 2010

Aynur, Tolga N.
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 42, Issue 7
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.01.024

Energy simulation in the variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning system under cooling conditions
journal, February 2007

Zhou, Y. P.; Wu, J. Y.; Wang, R. Z.
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 39, Issue 2
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.06.005

Comparative study of the cooling energy performance of variable refrigerant flow systems and variable air volume systems in office buildings
journal, December 2016

Yu, Xinqiao; Yan, Da; Sun, Kaiyu
Applied Energy, Vol. 183
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.09.033

Simulation comparison of VAV and VRF air conditioning systems in an existing building for the cooling season
journal, November 2009

Aynur, Tolga N.; Hwang, Yunho; Radermacher, Reinhard
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 41, Issue 11
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.05.011

Experimental investigation on cooling performance of multi-split variable refrigerant flow system with microchannel condenser under part load conditions
journal, April 2015

Meng, Jianjun; Liu, Min; Zhang, Wenqiang
Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 81
DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.02.007

Capacity modulation of an inverter-driven multi-air conditioner using electronic expansion valves
journal, February 2003

Choi, J. M.; Kim, Y. C.
Energy, Vol. 28, Issue 2
DOI: 10.1016/S0360-5442(02)00113-5

Generic simulation model of multi-evaporator variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system for control analysis
journal, September 2013

Zhu, Yonghua; Jin, Xinqiao; Du, Zhimin
International Journal of Refrigeration, Vol. 36, Issue 6
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2013.04.019

Integration of variable refrigerant flow and heat pump desiccant systems for the cooling season
journal, June 2010

Aynur, Tolga N.; Hwang, Yunho; Radermacher, Reinhard
Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 30, Issue 8-9
DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.01.002

Performance simulation of a joint solid desiccant heat pump and variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in EnergyPlus
journal, October 2013

Jiang, Yu; Ge, Tianshu; Wang, Ruzhu
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 65
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.005

Investigation on output capacity control strategy of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with multi-compressor
journal, April 2016

Tu, Qiu; Zou, Deqiu; Deng, Chenmian
Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 99
DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.12.102

Model-based multi-objective optimal control of a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) combined system with DOAS (dedicated outdoor air system) using genetic algorithm under heating conditions
journal, July 2016

Kim, Wonuk; Jeon, Seung Won; Kim, Yongchan
Energy, Vol. 107
DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.139

Simulation of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in heating mode combined with outdoor air processing unit
journal, January 2014

Zhu, Yonghua; Jin, Xinqiao; Du, Zhimin
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 68
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.042

Modeling and energy simulation of the variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with water-cooled condenser under cooling conditions
journal, September 2009

Li, Yueming; Wu, Jingyi; Shiochi, Sumio
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 41, Issue 9
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.04.002

Experimental validation of the simulation module of the water-cooled variable refrigerant flow system under cooling operation
journal, May 2010

Li, Yue Ming; Wu, Jing Yi; Shiochi, Sumio
Applied Energy, Vol. 87, Issue 5
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.09.018

Development and validation of a new variable refrigerant flow system model in EnergyPlus
journal, April 2016

Hong, Tianzhen; Sun, Kaiyu; Zhang, Rongpeng
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 117
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.09.023

A review of methods to match building energy simulation models to measured data
journal, September 2014

Coakley, Daniel; Raftery, Paul; Keane, Marcus
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 37
DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.05.007

Calibrating whole building energy models: An evidence-based methodology
journal, September 2011

Raftery, Paul; Keane, Marcus; O’Donnell, James
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 43, Issue 9
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.05.020

Calibration Procedure for Energy Performance Simulation of a Commercial Building
journal, August 2003

Yoon, Jongho; Lee, E. J.; Claridge, D. E.
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 125, Issue 3
DOI: 10.1115/1.1564076

Building model calibration using energy and environmental data
journal, May 2015

Royapoor, Mohammad; Roskilly, Tony
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 94
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.02.050

Stepwise deterministic and stochastic calibration of an energy simulation model for an existing building
journal, December 2016

Kim, Young-Jin; Park, Cheol-Soo
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 133
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.10.009

Model calibration for building energy efficiency simulation
journal, October 2014

Mustafaraj, Giorgio; Marini, Dashamir; Costa, Andrea
Applied Energy, Vol. 130
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.05.019

A pattern-based automated approach to building energy model calibration
journal, March 2016

Sun, Kaiyu; Hong, Tianzhen; Taylor-Lange, Sarah C.
Applied Energy, Vol. 165
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.026

Development of an automatic calibration method of a VRF energy model for the design of energy efficient buildings
journal, January 2017

Yun, Geun Young; Song, Kwanwoo
Energy and Buildings, Vol. 135
DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.11.060

Works referencing / citing this record:

Modelling of a Variable Refrigerant Flow System in EnergyPlus for Building Energy Simulation in an Open Building Information Modelling Environment
journal, December 2018

Torregrosa-Jaime, Bárbara; Martínez, Pedro J.; González, Benjamín
Energies, Vol. 12, Issue 1
DOI: 10.3390/en12010022

Similar Records in DOE PAGES and OSTI.GOV collections:

Energy Performance Assessment of Radiant Cooling System through Modeling and Calibration at Component Level

Conference Khan, Yasin ; Mathur, Jyotirmay ; Bhandari, Mahabir S

The paper describes a case study of an information technology office building with a radiant cooling system and a conventional variable air volume (VAV) system installed side by side so that performancecan be compared. First, a 3D model of the building involving architecture, occupancy, and HVAC operation was developed in EnergyPlus, a simulation tool. Second, a different calibration methodology was applied to develop the base case for assessing the energy saving potential. This paper details the calibration of the whole building energy model to the component level, including lighting, equipment, and HVAC components such as chillers, pumps, cooling towers, fans,more »« less
Technical Subtopic 2.1: Modeling Variable Refrigerant Flow Heat Pump and Heat Recovery Equipment in EnergyPlus

Technical Report Raustad, Richard ; Nigusse, Bereket ; Domitrovic, Ron

The University of Central Florida/Florida Solar Energy Center, in cooperation with the Electric Power Research Institute and several variable-refrigerant-flow heat pump (VRF HP) manufacturers, provided a detailed computer model for a VRF HP system in the United States Department of Energy's (U.S. DOE) EnergyPlus? building energy simulation tool. Detailed laboratory testing and field demonstrations were performed to measure equipment performance and compare this performance to both the manufacturer's data and that predicted by the use of this new model through computer simulation. The project goal was to investigate the complex interactions of VRF HP systems from an HVAC system perspective,more »« less
https://doi.org/10.2172/1104926

Full Text Available
Accuracy of HVAC Load Predictions: Validation of EnergyPlus and DOE-2 using FLEXLAB Measurements

Technical Report Haves, Philip ; Ravache, Baptiste ; Yazdanian, Mehry

The aim of the project reported here was to better understand the level of accuracy of three building energy simulation (BES) engines (‘engines’) — EnergyPlus™, DOE-2.1e, and DOE-2.2 — by identifying and investigating significant deviations between the performance predicted by these engines and actual performance as measured in the FLEXLAB® test facility at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The specific test conditions included some of those prescribed in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140 - Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs. Detailed measurements of FLEXLAB performance, including indoor temperatures and heat fluxes and air-flow and watermore »« less
https://doi.org/10.20357/B7H88D

Full Text Available
Evaluation of energy savings potential of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) from variable air volume (VAV) in the U.S. climate locations

Journal Article Kim, Dongsu ; Cox, Sam J. ; Cho, Heejin ; ... - Energy Reports

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are known for their high energy performance and thus can improve energy efficiency both in residential and commercial buildings. The energy savings potential of this system has been demonstrated in several studies by comparing the system performance with conventional HVAC systems such as rooftop variable air volume systems (RTU-VAV) and central chiller and boiler systems. This paper evaluates the performance of VRF and RTU-VAV systems in a simulation environment using widely-accepted whole building energy modeling software, EnergyPlus. A medium office prototype building model, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is used to assessmore »« less
Cited by 12
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2017.05.002

Full Text Available
Understanding Building Infrastructure and Building Operation through DOE Asset Score Model: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Project

Journal Article Wang, Na ; Goel, Supriya ; Gorrissen, Willy J. ; ... - ASHRAE Transactions, 119(pt. 2):Paper No. DE-13-C030

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is developing a national voluntary energy asset score system to help building owners to evaluate the as-built physical characteristics (including building envelope, the mechanical and electrical systems) and overall building energy efficiency, independent of occupancy and operational choices. The energy asset score breaks down building energy use information by simulating building performance under typical operating and occupancy conditions for a given use type. A web-based modeling tool, the energy asset score tool facilitates the implementation of the asset score system. The tool consists of a simplified user interface built on a centralized simulation enginemore »« less

Similar Records

Title: Model calibration of a variable refrigerant flow system with a dedicated outdoor air system: A case study

Abstract

Citation Formats

Achieving better energy-efficient air conditioning – A review of technologies and strategies journal, April 2013

Variable refrigerant flow systems: A review journal, July 2010

Energy simulation in the variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning system under cooling conditions journal, February 2007

Comparative study of the cooling energy performance of variable refrigerant flow systems and variable air volume systems in office buildings journal, December 2016

Simulation comparison of VAV and VRF air conditioning systems in an existing building for the cooling season journal, November 2009

Experimental investigation on cooling performance of multi-split variable refrigerant flow system with microchannel condenser under part load conditions journal, April 2015

Capacity modulation of an inverter-driven multi-air conditioner using electronic expansion valves journal, February 2003

Generic simulation model of multi-evaporator variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system for control analysis journal, September 2013

Integration of variable refrigerant flow and heat pump desiccant systems for the cooling season journal, June 2010

Performance simulation of a joint solid desiccant heat pump and variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in EnergyPlus journal, October 2013

Investigation on output capacity control strategy of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with multi-compressor journal, April 2016

Model-based multi-objective optimal control of a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) combined system with DOAS (dedicated outdoor air system) using genetic algorithm under heating conditions journal, July 2016

Simulation of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in heating mode combined with outdoor air processing unit journal, January 2014

Modeling and energy simulation of the variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with water-cooled condenser under cooling conditions journal, September 2009

Experimental validation of the simulation module of the water-cooled variable refrigerant flow system under cooling operation journal, May 2010

Development and validation of a new variable refrigerant flow system model in EnergyPlus journal, April 2016

A review of methods to match building energy simulation models to measured data journal, September 2014

Calibrating whole building energy models: An evidence-based methodology journal, September 2011

Calibration Procedure for Energy Performance Simulation of a Commercial Building journal, August 2003

Building model calibration using energy and environmental data journal, May 2015

Stepwise deterministic and stochastic calibration of an energy simulation model for an existing building journal, December 2016

Model calibration for building energy efficiency simulation journal, October 2014

A pattern-based automated approach to building energy model calibration journal, March 2016

Development of an automatic calibration method of a VRF energy model for the design of energy efficient buildings journal, January 2017

Modelling of a Variable Refrigerant Flow System in EnergyPlus for Building Energy Simulation in an Open Building Information Modelling Environment journal, December 2018

Achieving better energy-efficient air conditioning – A review of technologies and strategies
journal, April 2013

Variable refrigerant flow systems: A review
journal, July 2010

Energy simulation in the variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning system under cooling conditions
journal, February 2007

Comparative study of the cooling energy performance of variable refrigerant flow systems and variable air volume systems in office buildings
journal, December 2016

Simulation comparison of VAV and VRF air conditioning systems in an existing building for the cooling season
journal, November 2009

Experimental investigation on cooling performance of multi-split variable refrigerant flow system with microchannel condenser under part load conditions
journal, April 2015

Capacity modulation of an inverter-driven multi-air conditioner using electronic expansion valves
journal, February 2003

Generic simulation model of multi-evaporator variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system for control analysis
journal, September 2013

Integration of variable refrigerant flow and heat pump desiccant systems for the cooling season
journal, June 2010

Performance simulation of a joint solid desiccant heat pump and variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in EnergyPlus
journal, October 2013

Investigation on output capacity control strategy of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with multi-compressor
journal, April 2016

Model-based multi-objective optimal control of a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) combined system with DOAS (dedicated outdoor air system) using genetic algorithm under heating conditions
journal, July 2016

Simulation of variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system in heating mode combined with outdoor air processing unit
journal, January 2014

Modeling and energy simulation of the variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with water-cooled condenser under cooling conditions
journal, September 2009

Experimental validation of the simulation module of the water-cooled variable refrigerant flow system under cooling operation
journal, May 2010

Development and validation of a new variable refrigerant flow system model in EnergyPlus
journal, April 2016

A review of methods to match building energy simulation models to measured data
journal, September 2014

Calibrating whole building energy models: An evidence-based methodology
journal, September 2011

Calibration Procedure for Energy Performance Simulation of a Commercial Building
journal, August 2003

Building model calibration using energy and environmental data
journal, May 2015

Stepwise deterministic and stochastic calibration of an energy simulation model for an existing building
journal, December 2016

Model calibration for building energy efficiency simulation
journal, October 2014

A pattern-based automated approach to building energy model calibration
journal, March 2016

Development of an automatic calibration method of a VRF energy model for the design of energy efficient buildings
journal, January 2017

Modelling of a Variable Refrigerant Flow System in EnergyPlus for Building Energy Simulation in an Open Building Information Modelling Environment
journal, December 2018