With the changing times, VRF systems (Variable Refrigerant Flow) is emerging out as one of the most preferred choices of people all around the world. Earlier it was considered to be the “next-gen” HVAC solution, but now it has claimed its position.
Who doesn’t love savings? The primary reason behind the wide acceptance of VRF systems is its ability to provide savings on a long-term basis. Your savings will rise if your space has varying heating and cooling loads, also for the organizations that opt for green building certification.
Here, we bring you a piece of detailed information about VRF systems, their types, and how this technology could be apt for your space.
How does a VRF System work?
Talking about VRF Systems, they provide varying refrigerant volume through refrigerant branch piping to the evaporators, which work to control the needs of various places, sets points of each location and most importantly, aids in meeting their specific needs. Whereas the Traditional Systems worked on a smaller premise which just includes heating or cooling a place with the constant refrigerant flow.
VRF Systems come with several benefits, such as simultaneous cooling or heating. This system can simultaneously cool or heat different spaces according to your needs with the application of a single HVAC system as here each evaporator is being controlled individually. The facility of refrigerant variation is utterly essential in spaces that considerably have varied starking demands.
Suppose you have an office that is divided into various spaces such as Office area, Reception area, and Conference room. All these places might have different atmospheric needs which can be easily achieved by VRF systems that operate on separate evaporators for controlling the temperature needs of a particular space.
These systems are utterly flexible with a connecting capacity of around 50% of the system size that can be stretched up to 130% or even more based on the manufacturer. It merely implies that one can attach an indoor evaporator of three tons to a system weighing across 10 tons as gradually the load will be shifting from one evaporator to another one.
Types of VRF Systems
Generally, there are four types of VRF systems listed below:
Cooling Only Systems
These systems are highly similar to the Traditional split systems and are utterly simple when it comes to their functioning. Here, you still get the comfort of part-load performance from compressors that are driven by inverters. This particular point makes it highly efficient.
Heat Pump Style Systems
Remember the fan coils systems of dormitories? These VRF systems are highly similar to this type of fan coil system. Here, the indoor units aren’t capable of dual operations. They either provide heating or cooling to spaces. The indoor units work as evaporators when switched to cooling mode and the working changes to condensers when switched to heating mode.
Heat Recovery Systems
These VRF systems are highly flexible and have the capability of heating and cooling two different places individually. One can opt for this system only if they have one or more spaces that have different loading demands when compared to each other. While in such a situation, you must choose a brach controller that can replace your refrigerant piping connections to an operation based on the suction and discharge model.
Water Source Systems
These VRF systems are highly energy efficient when compared to air-source systems as water is considered to more effective at handling the heat. Here, the units are placed inside as opposed to the air source condensing units. This system supports heat recovery and also shares it within multiple condensing systems that are eventually connected to a similar water loop.
If you’re someone who wishes to splurge on air conditioning systems, then you should go for the Geothermal ones as they are one of the most efficient and expensive VRF systems.
Wrapping Up
While picking a VRF system for your workspace or home, always keep in mind your needs and then take a step ahead. These systems are capable enough to give you a thermal comfort alongside meeting your energy efficiency needs.
It is also essential to think about the lifetime cost of these systems and if they are really going to help you in saving your hard-earned money. Opting for the VRF system will provide ultimate comfort to your employees, family members and also a higher return on the money you’ve invested.
We hope this blog will help you in deciding as to whether opting for VRF systems will be beneficial or not. If you have any queries or feedback, do let us know in the comment section.
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