3613 -- Market Potential Estimates and R and D Planning for Advanced Absorption Systems for Large Commercial Buildings PDF

There has been considerable activity in recent years to develop alternative technologies that could reduce or level cooling electrical use in large commercial building space. A market assessment was performed to determine whether the potential benefits of a new, multi-effect absorption technology justified further research and development (R and D) to allow potential commercialisation. The approach results, and conclusions of that market assessment are presented. The assessment required hourly DOE-2 building loads calculations and a detailed gas/electric rate analysis for 37 cities. The results show (for a three-year payback) that standard, direct-fired, double-effect technology could capture on the order of 30% of the chiller market, and the advanced, multi-effect technology could capture about 60%. The ability to estimate potential national benefits significantly improves the framing of R and D strategies. The advanced technology also yields primary energy savings, while the double-effect technology leads to negative primary energy savings.

KEYWORDS: calculating, research, development plans, planning, commercial, buildings, absorption refrigeration, refrigeration, chillers, payback period, energy conservation, energy consumption, coefficient of performance, comparing