VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

WRITTEN BY:

IR. TAN YOKE LEE

MIEM, MI-FIRE E
Email contact: [email protected]
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?
VRV means variable refrigerant volume while VRF means variable
refrigerant flow.

Both are the same system of one outdoor compressor connected

to a few indoor fan coil units. The outdoor compressor can be
single unit or a few units connected together in modular form.

The media in the connecting pipe is refrigerant. Modern refrigerant

is R410a and R32 while the older R22 has been phased out due to
ozone depletion factor. The latest concern for this technology is
the GWP potential of the refrigerant used R410a.

VRV is the name patented by Daikin who pioneers the technology

while VRF is the name used by other manufacturers venturing into
the technology later.

VRF technology is used in modern construction where there is lacking of space to install other systems such as air
cooled chiller where you need pumps, water cooled chillers where you also need pumps and cooling towers and
space for makeup tanks, etc.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

In the recent years, there have been greater push to install VRF due to space saving and also high COP published by
manufacturer as compared to air cooled chiller due to direct use of refrigerant to transfer heat to surrounding air.
However COP may still be lower than water cooled chiller system.

In water cooled and air cooled chiller, the refrigerant used is water between chiller and air handling units. The heat
is then transferred to refrigerant R410a/ R134 (in the chiller) to be removed by condenser to surrounding air or to
water circulating in cooling tower.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

There is another technology in VRF where

the VRF refrigerant pipe runs between indoor
unit and indoor water sourced condenser
which rejects heat to condenser water loop
circulated through outdoor cooling tower.

This technology may be more efficient than

water cooled chiller and should be more
efficient than VRF system.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

Important points to note when designing/ installing VRF system.

1. Understand that any leakage in refrigerant may cause asphyxiation or fire (refer to MS2678).
• R410a has recommended concentration limit of 420grams/m3.
• R32 has recommended concentration limit of 77grams/m3.
• Thus system size (outdoor + indoor units) has to be small enough not to exceed smallest room size x
recommended concentration limit. Thus R32 refrigerant may still have limited usage in this technology.

2. When selecting the products in the market, we need to understand that the most important performance
parameter is not COP but IPLV( part load international) or MPLV (part load Malaysia).

3. When selecting the products, we need to pay attention to part load performance. Also certain manufacturers
like Panasonic tend to have higher performance for large condensors as compared to others because they
install many smaller compressors to form one large condensor. Smaller compressors are generally more efficient
than large ones.

4. The cost of maintenance need to be established. Common spare parts are solenoid valves and inverter boards.
Expensive spare part may actually increase the cost of ownership over the life spans of the products. There are
certain brands in market known to be very cheap, however the cost of ownership over the lift spans is very
high.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

Important points to note when designing/ installing VRF system.

5. Other limitations such as height between compressors and indoor units , maximum number of indoor units to
one outdoor units and the length of refrigerant pipes.

6. There is also limitation in a system for the maximum allowable distance between first indoor unit to last indoor
unit in the circuit (probably to limit the pressure difference of the refrigerant)

7. There is no isolating valve for the indoor units. Thus when one indoor unit is not functioning, THE WHOLE
CIRCUIT NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN. This is a great concern when you need 24hours AC in certain areas (where
you should design in spare split units AC). This is also a concern if you are operating a hotel where you may
loose your business, thus splitting the VRF system to few smaller systems maybe more advantageous to limit
the risk to disruption in business.

8. When installing the system, you need to ensure that brazing of pipe is done in presence of nitrogen to avoid
the formation of carbons deposits in the pipe which can damage the compressors. After completing and
pressure testing, the refrigerant pipes will also need to be purged by nitrogen to remove dirt and moisture
from the pipe.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

Important points to note when designing/ installing

VRF system.

9. Proper refnet joints from manufacturers should be

used to connect the main refrigerant pipe to
indoor units.

10. It is important to note that VRF is more sensitive to

correct piping installation in comparison with multi
split units and also water cooled system.

11. Always keep a lot of spares for the electronic or

thermal expansion valves for the FCU as they tend
to malfunction occasionally. During replacement of
valves, the refrigerant may need to be recovered
and the pipe line be charged again after the
replacement job.

12. With R410A, we need to be aware of the high GWP

concern.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?

Optional strategies in VRF system to

incorporate R32 refrigerant into VRF
due to low recommended refrigerant
limit requirement for occupied spaces.

Chilled water is used in internal space

while refrigerant piping is used in
external space which is the opposite of
VRF water cooled technology.
VRV OR VRF – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW?
MY CONCLUSION

• For centralised ACMV, where there is available space, there is the option of choosing between VRF or water cooled
system with water cooled system showing more advantage and promises to minimise disruption to cooling.

• However where space is limited, the only choice maybe to go for VRF. Thus VRF is very versatile and flexible for any
retrofit works.

• VRF when working properly may perform better than air cooled chiller in terms of part load performance. However,
it is strange that IPLV is seldom published by manufacturer.

• When designed correctly, the water cooled system may perform much better than the VRF system as it is easier and
more efficient to reject heat to water in cooling tower than directly to air. Also for part load performance, water
cooled chillers may be considered inefficient but better served by inverter based positive displacement scroll/ screw
compressors which can be applicable in our country with high wet bulb temperature.

• VRF water cooled system may be cheaper option to install as compared to inverter based positive displacement
water cooled chiller.

• VRF tend to be cheaper option to install as compared to water cooled system, however maintenance cost may be
quite expensive.