Significant demand reduction potential exists for HVAC technologies. The DRET collaborative explores this potential by evaluating promising HVAC control technologies, including standalone controls as well as those that integrate with the smart grid.
HVAC Research
| Project Focus | Project Title | Year | Source | Purpose | Draft or Final Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wdt_ID | Sort | Project Focus | Project Title | Year | Source | Purpose | Draft or Final Report |
| 21 | 215 | HVAC | DR15.20 Characterizing the Transient and Aggregate Response of Dispatchable Condenser Air Pre-Coolers | 2019 | SCE | This report describes a laboratory and field evaluation of an evaporative condenser air precooler, or pre-cooler, to improve the efficiency of packaged air-conditioning and heating RTUs. | Final |
| 22 | 200 | HVAC | DR12.17 Field Testing of Climate-Appropriate Air Conditioning Systems | 2017 | SCE | The purpose of this study is to provide a resource for evaluating and potentially implementing a program for variable capacity rooftop units to promote energy efficiency, peak electrical load reduction, and/or increased flexibility (such as for demand response) in commercial space conditioning equipment. | Final |
| 23 | 210 | HVAC | DR13.07 EPRI EB III B – HVAC & Refrigeration Systems Using Advanced Refrigerants | 2017 | SCE | This report describes a field test of an alternative technology: a system using ammonia as the primary fluid and CO2 as a pumped volatile secondary fluid. The system was installed in a food production facility in Irvine, California and is monitored along with existing, baseline conventional-refrigerant equipment, to study performance. | Final |
| 24 | 220 | HVAC | DR16.05 Laboratory Assessment of Demand Response RTU Controller | 2018 | SCE | This laboratory project evaluated the DR capabilities of an add-on retrofit controller for a five-ton RTU. The controller under test is also a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) A/C controller, which modulates the speed of the A/C compressor and indoor fan simultaneously. | Final |
| 26 | 205 | HVAC | DR13.06 EPRI EB III A – Variable-Capacity Space Conditioning Systems for Residential | 2016 | SCE | This study investigated a range of residential VC air conditioners (ACs) for California’s climate and applications by conducting a technical survey of available equipment, a laboratory assessment under realistic operating conditions, and a field study which recorded VC equipment operation over an entire cooling season. | Final |
| 120 | 199 | HVAC | DR12.16 Testing of Commercial Variable Capacity Heat Pump (VCHP) for Small Commercial Office Buildings | 2017 | SCE | This study looked at field performance of variable refrigerant flow heat recovery systems (VRF-HR) to both help characterize actual yearly energy savings potential, and to provide quality data for use in energy modeling verification. | Final |
| 131 | 222 | HVAC | SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center (EIC) – Demonstrating DR Performance of a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) – Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) Hybrid System | In Progress | SDG&E | This project will demonstrate the application of a hybrid system that combines VRF heat pump systems with Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) units to possibly provide even greater energy savings. | Draft |
| 138 | 221 | HVAC | DR17.18 Demand Response with Variable-Capacity Light Commercial HVAC Systems | 2020 | SCE | This project sought to demonstrate advanced DR control strategies for VC air-to-air HVAC systems in light commercial buildings. | Final |