Validation of an enhanced heat pump Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) numerical model in a cold climate using measured field data and simulation

无管多分体式热泵（能够加热和冷却）代表了住宅和ICI（工业-商业-机构）部门现有HVAC市场的很大一部分。热泵技术的一个相对较新的进步，包括可变制冷剂流量（VRF）系统代表了对传统多分流系统的显着增强，并在今天的北美市场获得更多的采用。一些国际研究表明，VRF系统可以节省10- 60%的能源消耗，这取决于建筑和地理变量，然而，在北美很少有VRF研究。使这个问题进一步复杂化的是，VRF技术的各个方面在本质上通常是专有的，这使得很难使用整个建筑仿真软件进行准确建模。尽管一些仿真引擎试图将VRF系统纳入其功能中，但由于缺乏使用测量的现场数据验证这些模型的研究，减缓了VRF系统的市场采用，因为机械工程师选择依赖传统系统，而不是未经验证的新技术，即使已公布的性能显着增强。该项目的总体目标是开发一个数值模型的VRF系统，通过现场数据进行验证。

Ductless multi-split heat pumps (capable of heating and cooling) represent a large part of the existing HVAC market in both the residential and ICI (industrial-commercial-institutional) sectors. A relatively recent advancement in heat pump technology, incorporating variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems represent a significant enhancement to traditional multi-split systems and are gaining more adoption in North American markets today. Several international studies have shown VRF systems can save 10- 60% of energy consumption depending on building and geographic variables, however, very few VRF studies have been found in North America. Further complicating this issue is the fact that aspects of VRF technology are typically proprietary in nature, making it difficult to accurately model using whole-building simulation software. Although some simulation engines have attempted to incorporate VRF systems in their capabilities, the absence of research verifying these models using measured field data, has slowed market adoption of VRF systems since mechanical engineers choose to rely on traditional systems rather than non-verified new technology, even if published performance is significantly enhanced. The overall goal of this project is to develop a numerical model for VRF systems that is validated by field data.