Technology is continuously evolving and as a leading installer of office air conditioning, we stay at the forefront of the latest developments. Our HVAC system designers and installers have access to the most up-to-date, proven quality products, meaning you can get the very best system for your commercial building. As technology continues to develop, the jargon surrounding these cutting edge systems becomes even more diverse.
The two types of system most regularly compared are VRV and VRF air conditioners. However, it can be difficult for laypersons to determine which air conditioning solution is right for their commercial building. Read on to discover the technology behind each of these air conditioning systems and, most importantly, find out which comes out on top.
The science behind the systems
As a multi-split air conditioning system, VRV or variable refrigerant volume air conditioners offer ultimate control for those looking to cool their commercial buildings. As the name suggests, a VRV system gives building owners and managers the chance to vary cooling capabilities from room to room, with specific zones individually climate controlled. In addition to providing individual control, VRV systems can be designed to suit a vast range of building types and sizes. Specialist VRV models are accessible to large scale buildings, meaning they can unlock energy savings, with high reliability and automatic refrigerant charge function as standard.
VRF stands for variable refrigerant flow. This HVAC technology works in the same way as VRV in that it uses refrigerant successfully to cool and heat zones.
So what’s the difference?
Don’t be fooled by the differing labels. VRF and VRV technology are essentially the same. In fact, both were terms coined by manufacturer Daikin. VRV was launched in 1982 as the world’s first use of variable refrigerant flow control. Unlike previous systems, this technology used only the minimum amount of refrigerant to make individual climate control across multiple zones possible. Thanks to the introduction of VRV and VRF technology, HVAC systems were made more energy efficient than ever. In recent years, these energy saving credentials have unlocked increased benefits, as this article from Mechanical Engineer Andrew Girgis explains:
“The most sophisticated VRV/VRF systems can have indoor units, served by a single outdoor unit, in both heating and cooling modes simultaneously. This mixed mode operation leads to energy savings as both ends of the thermodynamic cycle are delivering useful heat exchange. If a system has a cooling COP (Coefficient of Performance) of 3, and a heating COP of 4, then heat recovery operation could yield a COP as high as 7. It should be noted that this perfect balance of heating and cooling demand is unlikely to occur for many hours each year, but whenever mixed mode is used energy is saved. In mixed mode the energy consumption is dictated by the larger demand, heating or cooling, and the lesser demand, cooling or heating is delivered free.”
Want to know more about the benefits of VRV/VRF air conditioning? Contact our team direct for further guidance.
