Thermodynamics2: proposal

Energy efficiency assessment of an air conditioning for

different modes of operation

By: AHMED SALEH, MOHAMMED OTHMAN ABDULRAHMAN, SUHAIB ALFARAWI,

MEHMET KERIM KAYA
Introduction

Air conditioning systems are an essential part of every modern building to provide
thermal comfort and air quality for the buildings. Moreover, air conditioning systems can be a
double-edged sword and cause us a problem which is consuming energy in multiple buildings
such as, residential and commercial buildings. In addition, consuming energy led by AC systems
can cause an environmental impact. We will look forward to using the method of assessment for
energy efficiency air conditioning systems under multiple modes like heating, standby,
ventilation, and cooling modes. As result of our assessment, we can find ways to use the energy
in an efficient way and reduce the carbon emissions associated with the energy after heating and
cooling by the AC system. finally, our main goal is to design an air conditioning systems that is
more efficient in residential areas.

Methodology
- Thermodynamics analysis: analysis of the air conditioning systems by using the refrigerant
properties and systems design. Moreover, using the thermodynamic first and second law to
analyze the energy flow systems.
- Experimental steps: establish the key properties such as, including temperature differentials,
refrigerant properties, and electrical power consumption.
- Data collection and analysis: Experimental data must be collected for each mode, including
cooling, heating, fan-only, and energy-saving modes. Therefore, the thermodynamic principles
are applied to analyze the collected data performance metrics such as coefficient of performance
(COP).
- Efficiency calculations: after optimizing the numbers given by the Data collection and analysis
methodology, we can analyze the performance used as such the power consumption and COP to
check the energy efficiency.

Operation modes:

Heating mode: in this mode the air conditioner reverses the cycle to consume the heat for outside
and move it indoors.
Cooling mode: for cooling it doses the opposite or in other words absorb heat from indoor
environment and reject it to outdoors environment to result decrease in indoor heat or
temperature. We can also use the COP, the coefficient of performance which is heat added for
heating, and heat lost for cooling divided by work input.

COP = Q heating/ W input

COP = Q cooling/ W input

Energy saving mode: as for this mode it optimizes the energy usage by adjusting system
properties, such as temperature and fan speeds, to minimize energy consumption while keeping
the comfort levels. The energy savings achieved in this mode can be held to by comparing the
energy consumption to the total of standard operating modes.

Energy saving = Energy Consumption standard - Energy Consumption energy saving

How do air conditioning systems work? Well air conditioning systems work similarly like a
refrigerator as both use the thermodynamic cycle, refrigeration cycle, which change the pressure
and the refrigerant system to release or absorb heat. How does the refrigeration cycle operate?
refrigeration cycle has four main processes: compression, condensation, expansion, and
evaporation.
The processes:
- Compression: begin at point 1 sucks the superheated refrigerant vapor through the suction pipe
and starts to compress it as a result the temperature, pressure, and energy of compressed
increases as the specific volume decreases. “Compression ends at point 2, which determines the
parameters of vapor leaving the compressor. “.
- Condensation: in the middle of points 2 and 3 the cooling of superheated vapor starts until it
begins to condense because of that the specific volume and energy decreases, at point 3 the vapor
becomes standard vapor. Then at 3-4 the standard Vapor becomes standard liquid, which leads to
energy release and constant pressure.
- Expansion: to reach point 5 and 4’ subcooling occurs to make sure that the liquid enters the
expansion. As a result, the capacity increases while decreasing the pressure, and it works
isenthalpic or neglecting the kinetic energy.
- Evaporation: from point 5 throw 1 the evaporation has constant pressure and temperature. “The
heat load from the cooled medium is transferred to the refrigerant via the evaporator heat
exchange surface”. To finally reach the end of cycle at point 1 and repeat the cycle the standard
vapor flow at the pipe so it returns to it is initial state which lead to increasing energy.

Research on the efficiency of air conditioning systems is mainly based on isolation devices.
However, air conditioning system is a complex system consisting of several devices.
The load on the air conditioning system varies depending on many factors such as outdoor
parameters.
To evaluate the operating status of the air conditioning system and its energy saving potential,
the system coefficient of performance (SCOP) is proposed.
With SCOP, the actual operating status and optimal operating mode of the can be clearly
analyzed.
(SCOP = Qb / Wb = ∑Qai / ∑Wai)
The actual input power of each device in the water system was measured and the energy
consumption of the terminal installation was estimated to be 25% of the total energy
consumption of the air conditioning system according to related research.
The total actual cooling or heating load in each device equal to the actual capacity of the cooling
and heating source can also be calculated.
the Table below shows the SCOP in three air conditioning systems.

Fig 1

COP only represents the performance of the isolator while SCOP can represent the overall
performance of the air conditioning system.

Obviously, system 1 has the highest SCOP and SCOP of system 3 is the highest, lowest of all.

This means that system 1 has the best energy efficiency evaluated from the perspective of the
entire air conditioning system.

There are two types of air conditioning units used mostly at homes and
residential buildings which are the (split air conditioner) and the (central air
conditioner) and we are going to talk about how to measure their ratios of
efficiency in this part of the research.

As we are talking about how efficient the air conditioning systems are in
residential buildings or houses there is a test or a calculation called the
(energy efficiency ratio (EER)) which measures how efficient a room air
conditioning system is going to operate at a specific outdoor temperature.

Every A-C has an energy efficiency rating that shows how many (BTU/h) is
pulled out for each (Watt) of power it draws.

This ratio is calculated by using the equation below

EER= (BTU/h pulled out)/Watt

BTU= British thermal units and (1ton) would equal to (12,000 BTU/h) as we
use the unit’s ton in our air conditioning calculations usually.

(Note: the higher the EER is the more efficient the air conditioning
system is.)

Here is an example of how this measurement is performed.

But what exactly is considered a good EER rating?

A good rating according to most air conditioning companies is 8 EER or

greater so when an air conditioning system has an eight or grater ratio it is
considered a good ac
Data Analysis
NOTE: this data is collected in Paris

As we can analysis from the table above, we can calculate the COP using TestApp by the data
such as, Compressor inlet temp, Compressor discharge temp, Condenser outlet temp,.Evaporator
inlet temp and the pressure of both Evaporator and Condenser. As result we can determine how
efficient our system is. Moreover, if the COP of the system has is high there for the system is
efficient and consume less energy therefor less environmental impact.
p-h Table

T-s Table
COP – Work input calculation

Based on the data collected on Paris 07/24 which means summer, we used the TestApp to
calculate the COP but our main goal is to increase the COP to get better result such as efficacy
performants and envairmental impact.
References

na. (n.d.). Cop of cold & heat source | download table - researchgate.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/COP-of-cold-heat-source_tbl1_271635541

Rámila, D. (2023, December 12). Refrigeration cycle: Diagram and basic concepts. Area
Academy. https://areacooling.com/areacademy/basic-refrigeration-cycle-information/

Quiles, P. G. V. (2014, January 1). Operation and Energy Efficiency of a Hybrid Air Conditioner
Simultaneously Connected to the Grid and to Photovoltaic Panels. www.academia.edu.
https://www.academia.edu/100965912/Operation_and_Energy_Efficiency_of_a_Hybrid_Air_Co
nditioner_Simultaneously_Connected_to_the_Grid_and_to_Photovoltaic_Panels