HeadOfficeandManufacturingP.O. Box120Moorebank,N.S.W.187562-66GovernorMacquarieDrive,ChippingNorton Telephone: 61297258888
N.S.W.2170, AUSTRALIAFax: 61297258444
Zonedlabel, Air conditioningPoolPumpsTeamApplianceEnergyEfficiencyBranch
EnergyDivision
DepartmentofIndustry,InnovationandScience18thMarch,2016
ConsultationRIS–AirConditionersandChillers
Thankyoufor allowingDaikinAustraliathe opportunitytoprovide commentontheproposedchangesto EnergyPerformance StandardsforAirConditionerandChillersasoutlined intheConsultationRegulatoryImpactStatementofFebruary2016.
Asyou maybeaware,DaikinAustraliahasbeenastrongadvocatefortheadoptionofSeasonalPerformanceratingsandweareextremelypleased toseethatthissuperiorandmorecustomerfocussedmethodologyhasbeenproposed.
Wearein generalagreementforalltheOption B2reformproposals,exceptforreformproposalNo.10(AligntheMEPSlevelsfor fixedandvariable speedair conditioners)to whichwe stronglyobjectduetotheextremelyadverseenergyuseoutcomeand consumercost impactofthisproposal.Oursupportingrationaleisasbelow.
AdverseoutcomeofremovingPartLoadMEPScompliance
If thecurrentNo.10Reform Proposalisadoptedas is,itwillrequiremanymanufacturerstoincreasethesizeandcostoftheirproductsbyanamountthat isway outofproportiontotheextremelyminimalenergyefficiencygain.Furthermore,asthedatabelowshows,aMEPScompliantfixed speed modelofequivalentcoolingcapacitywoulduse 24%more energyperannumthat a variablespeed modelthatwould beremovedfromthemarketbythisproposal.
Type / DifferenceVariable / Fixed / Value / %
TestedValues / FullCapacity (W) / ful(35) / 15616 / 15616 / 0
FullPowerInput(W) / Pful(35) / 5166 / 5037 / -129 / -2.5%
HalfCapacity (W) / half(35) / 7957
HalfPowerInput(W) / Phalf(35) / 2231
EER full / 3.023 / 3.100 / 0.08 / 2.6%
EER half / 3.567
ISO16358-
1 / Annual Load (kW/h) / LCST / 11449 / 11449 / 0
AnnualEnergy(kW/h) / CCSE / 2799 / 3478 / 678 / 24.2%
CoolingPerformance / CSPF / 4.090 / 3.292 / -0.80 / -19.5%
Comparison ofMEPScompliantfixed speed v non complaintvariablespeedofsamecapacity
The“variable” testdata in theprecedingtable isactualtestdatafromaDaikin15.6kWmodel,which sitsinthemost popularductedsegmentoftheAustralianmarket(ie6horsepower).The“fixed”dataisafictitiousmodel,itassumesafixedspeedsystem withidenticaloutputcapacity butwitha lowerinputpower thatdeliversanEERequalto theapplicableMEPSlevelforthistypeofproduct(ie 3.1).OnlythefullcapacityandinputpowerforthefixedspeedsystemareappliedtotheCSPFcalculation,other datausedinthecalculationsuchaslowtemperatureperformanceandcyclingdegradationfactorarebased ondefaultvalues in AS/NZS3823.4.1.Asthere islikelytosomechangestothetemperaturebindatainAS/NZS3823.4.1wehaveused thereferenceISObindataforcalculations.Tosimplifythecomparison,we have removedtheadditional variableofstand-bypowerconsumptionandassumedthatEER= AEER.
ThespreadsheetusedtocalculatetheCSPF alsoshowsthesystemEER ateachbintemperature,asnotedinthetableabovetheEER at35°Cis3.023and3.10forthe variableandfixedspeedrespectively.At34°CtheEERforthevariablesystemis3.211comparedto3.12forthefixedspeedsystem.
The abovecomparisonusesa systemwithanEERof3.023 whichisMEPSx0.975,the currentpartload clause inAS/NZS3823.2hasanEERlimitrequirementofMEPS x0.95.If we increasethetested inputpowerforthe variablesystemto5,300 wattssothatthe EER= MEPS x0.95,thefixedspeedsystemwith anEERof3.1willstillconsume 23.9%moreenergyover theyear.
In thetablebelow, Ihave provided dataforanotherDaikinmodelthatusesacompressor withimproved partloadperformance,thetestdataforthismodelalso includestestdataatminimuminvertercapacityratherthanusingthedefaultvaluesintheStandard.AsthisductedmodelhasanEERof3.176 it wouldcomplywithMEPS (assumingzero stand-bypower).IhavecomparedtheCSPF calculationandannualenergyconsumptiontoafictitiousfixedspeedmodel withidenticalperformanceatfullcapacity.In thisexample,thefixed speed systemusesan additional669kW/hor78%moreenergyoverthe yearthanthe equivalentpart loadoptimised variablespeedsystem.
Type / DifferenceVariable / Fixed / Value / %
TestedValues / FullCapacity (W) / ful(35) / 6990 / 6990 / 0
FullPowerInput(W) / Pful(35) / 2207 / 2207 / 0 / 0.0%
HalfCapacity (W) / half(35) / 3514
HalfPowerInput(W) / Phalf(35) / 745
Min Capacity / min(35) / 2954
Min PowerInput / Pmin(35) / 492
EER full / 3.167 / 3.167 / 0.00 / 0.0%
EER half / 4.717
EERmin / 6.004
ISO16358-
1 / Annual Load (kW/h) / LCST / 5125 / 5125 / 0
AnnualEnergy(kW/h) / CCSE / 855 / 1524 / 669 / 78.3%
CoolingPerformance / CSPF / 5.997 / 3.363 / -2.63 / -43.9%
Comparison fixed speed v variablespeedofsamefullcapacityandinputpower
WhiletheabovemodelhasanEERof3.167,ifithada stand-bypower consumptionof15Wattsormoreitwouldhave anAEER lessthan3.1andthereforenotbeabletobesoldunderthecurrentOption B2proposal, eventhoughithasahuge energysavingoverthe fixedspeedmodel.
Theargumentforeliminatingthe partloadallowancetoreducepeakloadontheelectricitydistributionsystemistechnicallyveryweak.Eventheworstcasevariablespeedproduct with anEERofMEPS x0.95will onlyincreasethepowerconsumptionforthatparticular airconditionerby5%at ratedcapacity.Consideringthatonly15%of registrationsareusingthe current partloadoptionandthatannualsalesaccountforaround10%ofinstalledstockthe annualimpactwillbe a5%x15%x1%=0.00075%onthetotal air conditioningloadfor aparticular region,thepercentageimpactontotal peakloadwillbe even lowerdueto load associated withotherelectrical appliancesandlighting.Thiscase assumesthatallairconditioners areturnedonandoperatingatfull load.Itwouldbe extremelyunlikely thatnearlyallair conditionerswill be onduetoconsumerabsenceorcommercialpremisesclosedfortheday,furthermore,manyinstallationsthat have beenturnedonbeforethepeakwouldbeoperatingatpartload.
The Australianair conditioningindustryhasspentmillionsofdollarsmaking mostoftheirproductsAS4755compatibleattherequest oftheelectricaldistributors.DemandManagementisbyfarthemosteffectiveandappropriatewaytoaddresspeakdemand.Weareawareofsuccessfuldemandresponsetrailprogramsbytheelectricalindustryusingtheinternetconnectivityof modern airconditionerstoachievesignificantdemandreduction withoutadditionalinfrastructureofDREDorsmart meters,thisisthewayof thefutureandthe waytocurtail excessivedemandsonthedistributionsystem.UsingaconsumerfocussedEnergyEfficiencyschemetoindirectlytrytosolvepeakloadcostissuesforelectricaldistributorsisinappropriateandwill addfurthermanufacturingand subsequentlyconsumercostswith littlebenefit.Australianconsumersare alreadypayingadditionalcostsduetothe inclusionofanAS4755interfaceinmostproducts,whichtoourknowledge,isreallyonlybeingutilisedina smallsectionoftheAustralianmarket.
Regardingthe USDOE re-introductionofEERbasedMEPSinhot-drystates, it shouldbenotedthatthisappliesto coolingonlyequipmentandtherequiredEERisfairly lowfor thetypeofequipmentin scopeandthatSEERisstill also required.Furthermore,we havebeenadvisedthattheDOEisplanningtoamendtherequirementtoallowalower EERfor equipmentthathasahigher SEER.
Theminimumphysical testingrequiredto determinetheCSPFof avariablecapacityairconditioner isfullandhalfcapacity testingatT1conditions.IfanairconditionerhasapoorfullcapacityEER itwill impactonthefinalCSPFresult(andalsothehalfcapacityresult)soitwouldbeunlikelythatrelyingsolelyon CSPFastheMEPS metricwouldresultinadramaticdropinfullcapacityEERofnewmodels.
If EERisdeemedtobethe applicableMEPS metricintheimmediatefuture,we proposethatthepartloadallowanceberetainedbutmodifiedtorequirethat:-“variablespeedproductsthat haveanAEERless thanMEPSand greater thanMEPSx0.9shall have aCSPF(orHSPF) ofgreater thanthe equivalent fixedspeedCSPF (HSPF)forthe applicable MEPSlevelx1.1.” For example,forducted splitsystemsunder 19kWthe applicableMEPSlevel is3.1.Forafixedspeedductedsystemwith afullcapacityEER of3.1the resultingCSPF(usingdefaultvalues inthestandardandISOtempbins)is3.292.Therefore,avariablesystemthat hasanEERofbetween0.9andMEPSshallhaveaminimumCSPFof3.292x1.1=3.621).Alternatively, wecouldrequirethatforevery%pointtheEERisbelowMEPS, theCSPF shallbethe equivalentnumberof%pointsoverthefixedspeedCSPFforanEERatMEPS).Bothproposals imposenoadditionaltestingburdenandcanbeeasilyauditedfromtheregistrationdatathatmanufactureswillprovide.
Wenotethefollowingparagraphinthe RIS(page11):-
“However,iftheSEERstandardandassociatedZonedLabelare adopteditwillallowvariablespeedcompressorstodemonstratetheirsuperiorenergyefficiencyperformanceoverfixedspeed
compressors,andincentiviseimprovements inpart loadenergyefficiencyperformance.Thus, therationale forthe part loadcompliancepathway wouldnolongerexist.”
Whilethisstatement iscorrectforvariable speedproductsthathaveanAEERexceedingtheMEPSlevel, productssuch asthose outlinedinthe2tablesabove wouldnotgettheopportunitytodemonstratetheirsuperiorenergyefficiencyandperformancebecausetheywouldbebannedfromthemarket if thepartload compliancepathwayisremoved.
We appreciatethedifficultiesoutlinedinthe RISrelatedto setting anappropriate CSPF/HSPFbasedMEPS levelduetoourdifferentclimatezones andlackofmarketCSPF /HSPFdata.
However, thefinalobjectiveshouldbeto moveto a CSPF/ HSPFbasedMEPS assoonaspossible.
ZoneLabelling
Westronglysupporttheadoptionof ZoneLabelling, however wedonotbelievethere isacostbenefitinapplyingthelabeltoproductsthatarenotonretaildisplaysuchascommercialsystems,ducted indoorunits androoftoppackageunits.Requiringtheseproductsto belabelledwillonlyadd additional costtothe manufactureandsupply.We recommendthatthezonelabelinformationbe mandated byothermeanssuchas web site.
WeunderstandthemeritandpotentialfuturebenefitsofincludingaQRcodeonthe label.However,wehavereceived advicefromourparentcompanythatSaudiArabiahasexperiencedproblemswith incorrectQRcodesonlabels.If QRcodesaretobe implemented arobustandcontrolledadministrationsystemthatdoesnotplace additionalburden ordelayonthemanufacturerwillneedtobeimplemented.
ChillerComments
Removetheunique Australian/NewZealandchillerteststandardandalignwithUSteststandardAHRI551/591:2011.
Daikin Australiaagreeswiththeproposal toremovethe Australianteststandard,butcontendsthat theGovernmentshouldallowuseofeitherthe USAHRIandEuroventtest standards,giventhatproductionoccursinbothjurisdictions.
Includethe energyefficiency requirementsforA/C>65kWcapacity and chillers<350 kWunderGEMS/NZregulationsandinAustraliaremovethesefromtheNCC.
Daikin Australiaagreeswiththisproposal.
Align>65 kWA/CMEPSlevelsto39to65kWGEMSMEPS(i.e.AEER/ACOP2.90).Alignchiller MEPSlevelstotheUSenergyefficiencystandard ASHRAE90.1:2013wheretheUSlevelsarehigher.Daikinbroadlyagreeswiththisproposal,buthasanumberofspecificcomments:
- It isofDaikin’sviewthatheatpumpchillers(which arecurrentlyexempt)needtobe includedand complianceinthecoolingmodeshouldbeamandatoryrequirement.Free Coolingchillers
Adiabaticdesignedchillersshouldalsobeincluded.FreeCoolingChillerswouldberequiredto complyincoolingmode andadiabaticchillerswouldbe requiredto complyincoolingmodewithouttheassistanceoftheevaporatorpre-coolers.
- Chillers150kW shouldhave afull loadcompliance testonlyduetodifficultiesintestingpartloadperformancewithsingleordualcompressorchillerdesigns.FurtherDaikin believesthatforchiller 150kW the currentNCCfull load efficiency(COP 2.5)shouldbe maintainedduetoalargepercentageofthese chillersincludingbuiltin hydraulic(pump)kitswhichsubstantially
reducethefullloadefficiencyofthese machines.It isverydifficulttoachieve a full loadefficiencyCOP of2.87 from asmallinverterchillerthatincludetheinput energyconsumedbythepump(s)
- The inclusionof a“MaxCompliance Capacity”shouldbeincludedintheregistrationprocesstoremovepotentialloopholeswithinthe currentsystem wherechillersupplierscanregistermodels at areducedcapacitytocomplywithcurrentfull loadandpartloadrequirementandthen sellthatchilleratitsnominalcapacity.
Technical/administrativequestions
Fullyaligningtointernational test standards whenappropriate:
Whiletheproposed revisionsof ISOteststandardsseemfullyacceptableto Australian andNewZealandonthisoccasion,we feel itis importantto continueto maintainlocalisedversions shouldwerequireanationaldeviationtotheInternationalStandard.
Updatinginternational basedteststandards:
Wheninternationalteststandardsundergominoramendmentsthathavezerocostimpacts, wewould supportthe adoption oftheamendmentwithoutaformalRIS process.
Water-sourceheatpumps:
Wesupporttheproposalsdescribed intheRIS.
RemoveH2MEPSrequirements:
WeagreethattheseparateH2MEPSrequirementcanberemovedprovidedthattheCold ClimateratingontheZoneLabelprovidesadequatedifferentiation betweengoodandpoorproductperformanceintheH2region.
Simulationtesting of≥30 kW unitsunder a SEERscenario:
Ourparent companyengineershaveadvisedthatit wouldbedifficulttoaccuratelysimulateproductperformance inthefrostingregion (ieH2).
Multi-splitregistration:
Wesupportboththeproposalsdescribed intheRIS.
‘Add-on’coolers:
WebelievethataddoncoolingproductsarealreadycoveredbyMEPSandthereforetheyshouldbeMEPScompliantand registeredasperotherproductstheycompetewith.
Supplyofoutdoorunits only:
Theloophole ofsellingnonMEPScompliant/registeredoutdoorunitsneedstobe closed. The USmarket hasstandardsandprocessestoaddressmixed systems.Theseshouldbeconsidered forinclusionasproposed.
Noiseteststandard:
WesupporttheinclusionofNoiseLevelinformation ontheZonedLabelprovideditreplacescurrent Statebasedoutdoorunit labellingrequirements.We believethatEN 12102isthemostsuitablenoise standardtoapply.
Noisetestpoints:
Wesupporttheproposalsdescribed intheRIS.
Fixedspeedairconditioners -degradationcoefficient:
We agreethatthedefaultCDvalueof0.25isusedfor allregistrationsandwill notbe abletobechangedbytheapplicant.
Measurementofnon-operativepowerconsumption:
WeagreetoalignwithISOSEERstandard(AS/NZS3823.4:2014)
Heatpumpandreverse cycle liquidchillingpackages:
Pleaseseeearliercommentonthismatter.
Inverterover-capacity:
Incorrect sizingandnegative efficiencyimpactsisnotspecifictovariablespeedproducts.Ithasbeenaminorissuebeforetheintroduction of energylabellingin1997.
Supportingdata
Pleasedonothesitatetocontact meifyourequire additionalinformation,we are alsohappytosharethespreadsheetusedtoperformtheCSPFcalculationsinthissubmission.
RobBeggs
GeneralManager–Manufacturing