PO-86-13-5 -- New Testing and Rating Procedures for Seasonal Performance of Heat Pumps with Variable Speed Compressors PDF

The test and rating procedures prescribed by DOE for central air conditioners and heat pumps are not applicable to equipment with compressors having more than two distinct operating speeds. The operating characteristics of units having variable-speed compressors are significantly different from those of conventional single- or two-speed units. Those operating characteristics that are of importance in determining seasonal efficiency for variable-speed equipment are described and illustrated with performance data for a variable-speed heat pump.

The rating procedure developed by ARI for variable speed heat pumps and air conditioners is reviewed and compared to more detailed calculation methods. The method is shown to work well, but there are several test requirements that are either difficult to implement or unrepresentative of typical operation for a variable-speed unit. Modifications to the ARI method are suggested as a means of simplifying and generalizing the procedure while maintaining the same basic framework. Additional suggestions are offered for future areas of improvement to the methods used to rate both variable- and single-speed air conditioning equipment.

Units: I-P