Energy saving opportunities through Variable
Frequency Drive for Commercial Air Conditioners
Krishna Swetha Rathikrindi Dr.S. Paramasivam
DDS-R&D DDS-R&D
Danfoss Industries PVT.LTD Danfoss Industries PVT.LTD
Oragadam,Chennai-631604 Oragadam,Chennai-631604
u325775@danfoss.com param@danfoss.com
Abstract— Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) are used in many
applications ranging from small appliances to the largest of coal
plant drives wherein it’s possible to achieve significant amount of
energy savings through proper selection and sizing of the VFDs
along with suitable motors. Though we have various other
conventional energy savings schemes available, VFD has
significant amount of energy saving potential ranging from 20%
to 65 % opportunities depending on the application and its range
of operation. As on today, air conditioners are quite commonly
used and therefore electric motors are essential to be part of air
conditioners. Electric motors driving pumps, fans, compressors
and other machines are responsible for 45% of global electricity
use in worldwide wherein huge energy savings opportunities are
available [4]. But at the same time, energy savings opportunities
are not explored by user due to lack of awareness on the energy
savings opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to show how
to save energy through VFD controlled motor driven systems for
compressor used in air conditioner applications. In this paper,
the possible energy savings opportunities between Fixed Speed
Motor Compressors Vs. VFD controlled Motor compressors is
presented.
Keywords—VFD, Compressor, Energy savings, IEER, EER
I. INTRODUCTION
Because of urbanization, cities are getting thickly populated
which leads to many adverse effects such as the climate
changes and increase in temperature and so on [1]. The
residents and offices are increasingly investing in air
conditioning systems í which discharge heat from homes
offices and apartment blocks into the city air. The vicious circle
effect is that cities get still warmer and making air conditioning
even more attractive and it became an essential item in homes,
offices and industries environment [2]. Typical Air
conditioning systems needs compressor as a main subsystem
along with other accessories [3]. There are different types of
compressors available for air-conditioning applications wherein
mostly fixed speed compressors are used.
II. FIXED SPEED COMPRESSOR
Traditional air conditioning systems are designed for
an efficient operation at full load conditions, so air conditioning
978-1-5386-3695-4$31.00 2018
c IEEE 338
Lokare Sandeep
DCS-SLAGI
Danfoss Industries PVT.LTD
Oragadam,Chennai-631604
Sandeep.Lokare@danfoss.co
systems are over designed most of the times. Consequently, at
light load conditions, the air conditioning systems deliver
excess capacity than the required capacity which leads to
significant wastage of energy and hence cost. Traditional
systems address light load conditions with unloading
techniques— for example with hot gas bypass, or with multiple
compressors, or with digital compressor technology—but these
solutions are inefficient, either because high compressor
efficiency cannot be maintained at light load or because load
matching ability is imperfect. Hot gas bypass solutions are even
less efficient. Fig.1 highlights the Temperature vs. Time in
Fixed speed compressor operation with respect to set point
temperature wherein set point is maintained by on-off cycling.
Fig.1. Temperature vs. Time in Fixed speed compressor
The traditional way of controlling a compressor is by
running the motor at full speed and then stopping it after
achieving desired temperature. This “On- Off “cycling is
wasteful as every start consumes lot of energy. There is also a
variation in temperature of the room leading to discomfort.
III. VARIABLE SPEED COMPRESSORS
In contrast, the VFD controlled compressor system is
designed to maintain high efficiency at light loads and has the
inherent benefit of precisely and continuously matching the
load by operating from motor from few Hz to 90 Hz. With no
excess evaporator and condenser capacity under light load,
VFD controlled compressor system coefficient of performance
(COP) is higher, leading to significant energy savings along
with good power factor regardless of the load. Other benefits
include smooth starting, low inrush current, lesser system
stress, higher reliability, and longer lifetime. So variable speed,
is a way to match cooling capacity to cooling demand to air
conditioning systems requirements. Fig.2 highlights the achieved by continuously varying speed of the motor through
Temperature vs. Time in VFD controlled compressor operation VFD which leads to lesser oscillations around the set point.
with respect to set point temperature wherein set point is

Fig.2. Temperature vs. Time in VFD Fed Motor Driven Compressor

Fig.3.1: Fixed speed
VFDs adjusts the energy output of a compressor by controlling
the speed of the motor, ensuring it runs at optimum efficiency
which leads to energy saving at loads lesser than the full load.
VFDs work by controlling the waveform of the current and
voltage supplying the motor. A VFD converts the incoming AC
power to DC and then back to a quasi-sinusoidal AC power
using inverters. The rotation of the motor shaft can be adjusted
with great accuracy, ensuring that the air conditioning
application gives the performance requited by the customer.
The benefits of this technology included reducing power cost,
reducing power surges (from starting AC motors), and
delivering a more constant pressure. Typically, air conditioning Fig.3.2: Variable Speed
systems consumes considerable electricity bill is attributed to Fig.3 Power consumption Vs different outdoor temperature values
the production of compressed air[4]. The majority of modern
homes, commercial complexes and factories are heavily
involved in cutting costs, and energy awareness is a key
concern. Electricity bill cost savings can be achieved by
installing a VFD’s controlled Motor Driven compressors in
Air-conditioning systems instead of Fixed Speed Motor Driven
Compressors[5]. Because of this, most of the countries are
pushing the industries to move towards this technology that
would help us to save the energy.
IV. ENERGY SAVINGS OF COMPRESSOR
A scroll compressor of 5-ton capacity is used as test
case to see how much energy savings is achievable between Fig.4.1: Fixed speed
Fixed Speed Vs. Variable speed operation of the compressors
in air-conditioners. Let us consider 1st case as Fixed speed
compressor with a required room temperature of 26.7°C. To
meet this room temperature, compressor runs at rated speed
and its power consumption is ranging 6736.8 to 5144 watts for
an outside temperature 35 °C to 18.3 °C respectively which is
shown in Fig 3.1. In the same way, the variable speed
compressor with a required room temperature of 26.7°C is
considered. To meet this room temperature of 26.7°C,
compressor runs at variable speed and its power consumption is
ranging from 7717.89 to 2080 watts for an outside temperature
35°C to 18.3°C which is shown in Fig 3. Fig.4.2: Variable Speed

Fig.4 Power consumption Vs ¨T outdoor temperature values

4th International Conference on Electrical Energy Systems (ICEES) 339

From the above Fig.4, it observed that for the same conditions variable speed compressors to achieve the set temperature of
of ¨T i.e difference between outdoor and indoor temperature, 26.7°C which conveys that energy savings is possible through
the fixed speed compressor is running at higher speed than the VFD Fed motor driven compressors.
TABLE I
COST ESTIMATION FOR FIXED AND VARIABLE SPEED
V. PERFORMANCE RATING OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS COMPRESSOR
Annual Power
There are standards which speaks about the Annual
IPLV cost
Catagory Power (Kw Rate(Rs)/kwhr
performance rating of the Air conditioner units. Performance EER
Hrs.) (Rs)
Rating of Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-conditioning
Fixed
and Heat Pump Equipment are clearly spelt out in AHRI Speed
7.073152 47037.69 8 376301.6
Standard 340/360 (I-P)-2015. As per this standard, all Variable
equipments rated in accordance with this standard shall include 8.920704 37295.80 8 298366.4
Speed
an Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio (IEER), even if they Cost Saving in INR 77935.18
only have one stage of cooling capacity control [6],[5] Cost Saving in % 20.71083

IEER=(0.02*A) + (0.617*B) + (0.238*C) + (0.125*C) … (1)
Where:
A = EER at 100% Capacity at AHRI Standard Rating
Conditions
B = EER at 75% Capacity and reduced condenser temperature
C = EER at 50% Capacity and reduced condenser temperature
D = EER at 25% Capacity and reduced condenser temperature
The IEER rating requires that the unit efficiency be determined
at 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% Percent Load at the conditions
specified in Table 6 and at the part load rated airflow, if
different than the full load rated airflow. This A, B, C, D values
changes depends on the climatic conditions of the particular
country which are defined in table 3 and 6 in AHRI Standard
340/360 (I-P)-2015[6].
EER is known as energy efficiency ratio which can be
calculated as a ratio of cooling capacity to the power input. The
EER at 100% Capacity is the Standard Energy Efficiency
Ratio. No additional test at 100% Cooling Capacity is required.
EER = Cooling Capacity/ Input Power …………. (2)
From the IEER, it can be seen that the 100%, 75%, 50% and
25% capacities are utilized 2%, 61.7%, 23.8& and 12.5% of the
year. This conveys that compressor runs most of the time in
year on partial loads which is a crucial information should be
accounted by the customers. Also cost saving for a given
system is about INR 77935.18/year which will lead ROI in few
months from the installation. From this comparison we can
clearly say that the variable speed compressor increases the
efficiency and decreases the energy cost to a great extent.
VI. CONCLUSION
It’s clear from the above table, VFD controls the motor such
that compressor delivers the required capacity. As a result of
this VFD, energy savings can be significantly improved which
leads lower energy consumption at partial loads and hence cost.
Apart from this cost, it leads to improved PF. Payback period is
less than year in most cases and therefore its very important to
create an awareness about the energy savings, payback period
and life cycle costs.

Once the IEER is known, we can calculate the annual energy

cost/yr REFERENCES
[1] www.Danfoss.com
IEER= [Load(Btu/hr.)/EER] X 8.76 X (cost/kWh) …… (3) [2] http://commercialcompressors.danfoss.com/home/#/
[3] https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/impacts.pdf
Using above formulas, Energy consumption by the fixed speed [4] http://www.iec.ch/about/brochures/pdf/conformity_assessment/IECEE_
and Variable speed compressors are calculated Table:1 Cost Global_Motor_Energy.pdf
estimation and IEER of Fixed Speed and variable speed [5] Waide, Paul, Brunner, Conrad U., et al.: Energy-Efficiency Policy
Opportunities for Electric Motor-Driven Systems. International Energy
Compressors.
Agency Working Paper, Energy Efficiency Series, Paris 2011.
[6] AHRI Standard 340/360 (I-P)-2015

340 4th International Conference on Electrical Energy Systems (ICEES)