Cooling capacity of 1 HP room air conditioner – comparison between indoor room testing condition of ISO 5151 standard requirement and average Malaysian preferable condition

Abstract

Energy efficiency rating and labelling program encourages the manufacturers in ranking the performance of air conditioners by specifying the energy consumption and energy saving for all the tested models. The star rating benefits the consumers to buy air conditioners that work more efficient and save more money after a long period of time. The international standard ISO 5151 regulates the testing and rating for performance of non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps. However, Malaysia experiences hotter climate since it is near to the equator. Thus, Malaysians have other preferable condition, which is different with the comfort zone specified in the standard test condition. An Annual Performance Factor (APF) test of a room air conditioner was conducted to compare the average Malaysian preferable condition and the standard test condition. Results showed that the indoor dry bulb/wet bulb temperature, 27 °C/19 °C of ISO 5151 standard requirement shall be applied for all room air conditioners in Malaysia. Although Malaysians favour the comfort zone of indoor dry bulb/wet bulb temperature, 25 °C/18 °C, the cooling capacity, the energy efficiency ratio and the coefficient of performance at standard requirement is higher, which are more than 2.559 %, 2.051 % and 2.049 % respectively after comparison. The results confirm that the room air conditioners at Malaysia should comply with the standard test condition based on ISO 5151 for better energy and cost efficient.