VRF Outdoor Unit

AirConditioner:VariableRefrigerantFlow

Used in:   VRF Loop

This model simulates a variable-refrigerant-flow (or variable-refrigerant-volume) air-conditioning system. This system type models direct-expansion cooling and/or heating coils configured in a zone indoor unit.

There are two common types of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems:

• Cooling only or heating only air-conditioning systems (a.k.a. heat pump), or
• Heat recovery systems that allow simultaneous cooling and heating

The VRF outdoor unit supports air-, evaporatively-, or water-cooled condenser equipment. Throughout this section, the term “condenser” refers to the outdoor unit where the compressor is located.

Enter data on one of the 4 tabs:

• General
• Cooling
• Heating
• Heat Recovery

VRF Resources

You can learn more about practical aspects of VRF design and simulation for project work (in the context of GSHP systems) by watching our webinar: Design and Modelling of Ground Source Heat Pump Systems

• DesignBuilder curve generation spreadsheets can be downloaded from the software downloads area of the website.

• The EnergyPlus Engineering Guide includes a Detailed technical description of the way the VRF model works.
• Richard Raustad of Florida Solar Energy Center report on Creating Performance Curves for Variable Refrigerant Flow Heat Pumps in EnergyPlus
• VRF System Design and Simulation Webinar presented by DesignBuilder, Mitsubishi and Building Performance Team, recorded on 01.09.15.