Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?

Metzger, Cheryn E.; Zhang, Jian M.; Maguire, Jeffrey B.; Winkler, Jonathan M.

Title: Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?

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Abstract

The project discussed in this report was a collaborative effort between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For this project, PNNL and NREL developed a prototypical simulation model for ducted minisplits based on a combination of previously modeled DHP systems and central duct system models. To understand the implications of how this model would react under different scenarios, the DMS model was then used in 5 different prototypical homes, in three different cities, each representing one of BPA’s heating zones. Electric resistance zonal heat, with window air conditioning was used as a baseline for comparison in all cases. Only one manufacturer was modeled due to budget constraints.

Authors:

Metzger, Cheryn E. ^[1]; Zhang, Jian M. ^[1]; Maguire, Jeffrey B. ^[2];

^[2]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States

Publication Date:: 2018-02-01

Research Org.:: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1504918

Report Number(s):: PNNL-26834
Journal ID: ISSN 0001-2491

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: ASHRAE Journal

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 60; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0001-2491

Publisher:: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; ducted; minisplits; modeling; EnergyPlus; BEopt; BPA; Short-run ducts; Building Energy Optimization; Bonneville Power Administration; Cheryn Metzger; Jian Zhang; Jon Winkler; Jeff Maguire; Model; model

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                    Metzger, Cheryn E., Zhang, Jian M., Maguire, Jeffrey B., and Winkler, Jonathan M. Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
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                    Metzger, Cheryn E., Zhang, Jian M., Maguire, Jeffrey B., & Winkler, Jonathan M. Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?.  United States.

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                    Metzger, Cheryn E., Zhang, Jian M., Maguire, Jeffrey B., and Winkler, Jonathan M. Thu .  
"Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1504918.

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@article{osti_1504918,

  title        = {Are Ducted Mini-Splits Worth It?},

  author       = {Metzger, Cheryn E. and Zhang, Jian M. and Maguire, Jeffrey B. and Winkler, Jonathan M.},

  abstractNote = {The project discussed in this report was a collaborative effort between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For this project, PNNL and NREL developed a prototypical simulation model for ducted minisplits based on a combination of previously modeled DHP systems and central duct system models. To understand the implications of how this model would react under different scenarios, the DMS model was then used in 5 different prototypical homes, in three different cities, each representing one of BPA’s heating zones. Electric resistance zonal heat, with window air conditioning was used as a baseline for comparison in all cases. Only one manufacturer was modeled due to budget constraints.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {ASHRAE Journal},

  number       = 2,

  volume       = 60,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2018},

  month        = {2}

}

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