Feasibility Study on Variable-Speed Air Conditioner under Hot Climate based on Real-Scale Experiment and Energy Simulation

It is well known that inverter-driven variable-speed compressor (or inverter) air conditioners are more efficient than constant-speed compressor air conditioners. Therefore, most countries have employed part-load assessment test standards such as ISO 16358, EN 14825 and ASHRAE 116 in addition to the conventional ISO 5151 full-load test standard to appropriately evaluate the part-load efficiencies of variable-speed air conditioners. However, many countries in the Middle East and South America still use the ISO 5151 standard owing to policy or high- temperature environmental considerations. In this study, we experimentally verify the energy saving effect of the inverter air conditioner with respect to the constant-speed air conditioner under the Korean climate with distinct temperature changes of four seasons and under the hot climate of Saudi Arabia throughout the year. ISO 5151 defines test conditions for a single temperature, whereas ISO 16358, EN 14825 and ASHRAE 116 simulate seasonal efficiencies using interpolation of several climate test results. Herein, we directly employ the environmental changes during a day or season in a qualified test room with specific dimension. Using extensive regional and seasonal climate data for Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the changes in temperature conditions are applied directly to the outdoor side and appropriate building cooling load conditions are applied to the indoor side of the air-enthalpy-type test room. The energy savings of the inverter air conditioner were analyzed experimentally according to the spatial and temporal temperature changes. The energy reduction effects of the inverter air conditioner largely depended on the temperature and cooling load changes for a day or season. Furthermore, a feasibility study based on an energy simulation showed that the variable-speed air conditioner could be economical even in hot climates.