Abstract
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.
Highlights
Air conditioners are essential in “hot” countries such as Saudi Arabia and in Korea.In Korea, air conditioners were luxury items until the 1980s, but gradually became popular since the1990s
People usually think that no difference in energy efficiency between constant-speed and inverter-type air conditioners exists in countries with hot climates such as Saudi Arabia
Regard, aa performance performance test of of the air sensitiveisto conditioner carried out in a calorimeter-type or air-enthalpy-type test room (Figure 2) test where the conditioner is carried out in a calorimeter-type or air-enthalpy-type air-enthalpy-type test test room (Figure 2) where the conditioner temperature environment is exactly controlled according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 5151 standard
Summary
Air conditioners are essential in “hot” countries such as Saudi Arabia and in Korea. Khatri et al [9] carried out a long-term field test to compare the energy savings of two types of air conditioners in two specific rooms in India These studies did not analyze the performance differences under controlled temperature variations and building cooling load variations in accurately controlled test rooms. We analyze the energy saving effects of inverter and constant-speed air conditioners during the cooling periods in Saudi Arabia and South Korea. People usually think that no difference in energy efficiency between constant-speed and inverter-type air conditioners exists in countries with hot climates such as Saudi Arabia. The energy usage of each air-conditioner under the laboratory environmental conditions is evaluated by simulating the climate of South Korea where the four seasons are evenly distributed and hot climate of Saudi Arabia throughout the year
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
