DE-13-010 -- Verification of a VRF Heat Pump Computer Model in Energy Plus ✓ Most Recent

This paper provides verification results of the EnergyPlus™variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heatpumpcomputer model usingmanufacturer’s performance data. The paper provides an overviewoftheVRFmodel, presents the verificationmethodology,anddiscusses the results. The verification provides quantitativecomparison of full- and part-load performance to manufacturer’sdata in cooling-only and heating-only modes of operation. TheVRF heat pump computer model uses dual range biquadraticperformance curves to represent capacity and energy input ratio(EIR) as a function of indoor and outdoor air temperatures anddual range quadratic performance curves as a function of partloadratio for modeling part-load performance. These performancecurves are generated directly from manufacturer’spublishedperformancedata.Theverificationcomparedthe simulationoutput directly to manufacturer’s performance data andfound that the dual range equation-fit VRF heat pump computermodel predicts the manufacturer’s performance data very wellover a wide range of indoor and outdoor temperatures and partloadconditions. The predicted capacity and electric power deviationsare comparable to equation-fit HVAC computer modelscommonly used for packaged and split unitaryHVACequipment.