Feature
LOOKING AT THE
EVOLUTION OF VRFS
By Ntsako Khosa
The HVAC industry has seen significant changes and innovations related to VRFs
with new terms like VRS and VRV making the rounds. We find out more about the
innovations and what this means for the industry.
“
VRV was invented in the early 1980s and since then there has
been a steady introduction of new brands of VRF products
into the market,” says Preggy Chettiar, Business Development
manager at HC Heat-Exchangers.
The VRF technology originally stems from Daikin. Marc
Brotherhood, National Product manager at Daikin Air
Conditioning explains, “VRV and VRF (variable refrigerant flow),
are two different terms for the same technology. Because VRV
is a trademark of Daikin Industries Ltd., all other companies that
replicate this technology call it VRF. When Daikin launched the
VRV air conditioning system in 1982, it introduced the world's
first use of variable refrigerant volume control”. Competition,
price and performance are some of the aspects that run any
market. Chettiar says this is a good thing because, “with
competition comes great innovation and each brand continues
to attract a larger market share by driving product efficiencies,
hence achieving a competitive advantage”.
EVOLUTION OF VRF
Essentially, VRF is a technology that circulates only the
minimum amount of refrigerant needed during a single heating
or cooling period matching the buildings or space temperature
requirements using minimal electricity. “The technology
modulates refrigerant flow by electronically controlling the
speed of the compressor. This is achieved through a process
known as digital commutation,” says Brotherhood. He
also shares that the basics of operation have not changed
but materials science as well as mechanical and electrical
technology has. “The improvements have led to more superior
components over the different evolutions.” He states that
some of the changes in their systems have compressors which
are fully inverter controlled, liquid refrigerant cooled power
electronics as well as VRT (variable refrigerant temperature)
control on the indoor units. The automatic refrigerant charge
function also automates the charging of the correct amount of
refrigerant required in the system.
‘VRV and VRF (variable refrigerant
flow), are two different terms for the
same technology’
– Marc Brotherhood, Daikin.
VRF systems
have seen
significant
changes since
inception over 30
years ago.
38
RACA Journal I April 2020
Chettiar adds that energy efficiency and more recently Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) have been prioritised by all
brands, which is partly due to pressure by regulating bodies in
different countries. “Each brand has introduced its own unique
competitive advantage while addressing energy efficiency and
complying with regulations like EN378.”
As a supplier of most of the brands, these are some of the
changes/improvements he’s seen with the system:
www.hvacronline.co.za