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    • What's New
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  • SketchUp Models
    • SketchUp Resources
    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building HHW System Logic Exercise
    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building Scavenger Hunt
    • Chilled Water Plant System Diagram Exercise
    • The HIjend Hotel >
      • Chilled Water Plant Scoping Exercise
      • Ballroom AHU Scoping Exercise
      • Cooling Tower Scoping Exercise
  • Tools
    • Altitude Correction Factor
    • Economizer Evaluation Checklist
    • Eikon for Educators and WindLGC
    • Effective Duct Length Tool
    • Excel Third Axis Tool
    • Excel Time Value Conversion
    • Insulation Savings Tools
    • Logic Diagram Tool
    • Mixed Air Calculations
    • Monitoring Plan Spreadsheet
    • Pipe Friction Chart
    • Plot Digitizer >
      • Plot Digitizer Pump Curve Example
    • Square Law Spreadsheet
    • System Diagram Symbols
    • Thermodynamic Diagrams Spreadsheet
    • Universal Translator Data Analysis Tool
    • y = (m * x) + b Spreadsheet
  • Useful Formulas
    • Affinity Laws
    • Circular Equivalent Duct
    • Effective Duct Length
    • FT Guide Appendix C
    • HVAC Equations and Concepts
    • Hydraulic Diameter
    • Pump Power and Energy
    • "Square Law"
  • What's That Thing?
    • Cooling Towers
    • Pumps
    • Valves
  • Resources
    • Bill Coad's Writings
    • Data Logging Resources
    • EBCx Skills Guidebook
    • Energy Design Resources
    • Fisher Controls Valve Cavitation Bulletin
    • Functional Testing Guide
    • Honeywell Gray Manual
    • MCC Powers Bulletins
    • NBCIP Reports
    • PEC Tool Lending Library
    • PID Resources
    • Pneumatic Control Resources
    • Resource List
    • Scoping Resources
    • TAB Resources
    • Vintage Carrier Design Manual
    • VRF Systems
    • Williams' Wisdom
  • Videos
    • Bureaucratic Affairs HHW Logic Answers
    • Cooling Tower Flow Variation
    • Economizer Stratification
    • Functional Testing
    • Induction Principles
    • Monitoring Plans
    • Ripple Effects
    • Testing a Pump
    • The Garden of Low Entropy
    • Variable Flow Systems
  • Training
    • Materials from Classes and Presentations >
      • ACEEE
      • ASHRAE
      • ASHRAE - Engineers Notebook
      • BCxA and NCBC
      • BEST Institute
      • Case Studies
      • ERDC 2020 RCx Academy
      • ELPNW
      • ICEBO
      • Marriott AEP
      • Magazine Articles
      • NAVFAC
      • Pacific Energy Center Design, Performance and Commissioning Issues Classes >
        • PEC Class Materials Archive
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Project Review
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Workshop Series >
        • EBCx Workshop Series 12
        • EBCx Workshop Series 13
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        • EBCx Workshop Series 15 >
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        • EBCx Workshop Series 16
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      • Portland General Electric
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Variable Flow Refrigeration Systems

Several years ago, I participated as co-presenter for a class called VRF;  the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.  Presentations include the design perspective, the owner's perspective, the vendor's perspective, the installer's perspective, and the commissioning provider's perspective.  I presented the commissioning provider's perspective portion.  

Several years before the class, I had run into my first VRF system and had done a lot of research trying to understand what the issues were and much of that content showed up in my presentation.   My bottom line was that the technology was pretty amazing and in and of itself, it worked.   But there were a lot of issues with it being applied properly, including the technical details behind what it took to install the technology and the need to integrate it with things like packaged economizer systems, ventilation air systems, and building management and control systems.

A number of clients kept asking if we would share the details behind what I presented in the class, and we gladly did that, starting with a blog post I wrote about the issues that came up with integrating third party economizers with VRF indoor units.  Ultimately, Jay Santos (one of our founding principles) suggested that I just write a memo that tied everything we had discovered so far together and then make that available as needed.    The file below on the left is that memo.

The memo covers the following topics:
  • Overview of the Technology
  • Access and Serviceability
  • Installation Considerations
  • Refrigerant Considerations
  • Control System Integration
  • Design Integration
  • Conclusions and Recommendations

​The memo includes some detailed appendixes with details on the installation issues we had seen, details regarding the flare tools and other tool issues that need to be considered when working with the Mitsubishi system, and an e-mail discussion I had with someone about the economizer integration issues.

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The file below on the right is the wiring diagram and control equipment information associated with integrating the third party economizer with a Mitsubishi indoor VRF unit.
VRF Systems Lessons Learned Memo.pdf
File Size: 12114 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Honeywell W7212 Economizer Controller Wiring with VRF System (vrf_economizer_wiring_and_equipment.zip)
File Size: 8148 kb
File Type: zip
Download File

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