Study On Energy Efficiency Standards For Central Air Conditioning Units Using The Vapor Compression Cycle

In order to reduce the energy consumption of central air conditioning units and mitigate the associated environmental issues, it is of great significance to establish and implement Energy Efficiency Standards (EESs) for central air conditioning units. This dissertation studies EESs for central air conditioning units using the vapor compression cycle (CACUs) systematically and academically. It strives for not only revealing the general rationales of energy efficiency standards and labeling, but also showing the advanced progresses of refrigeration and air conditioning technology.The concerned standards for CACUs at home and abroad are discussed in detail, and the energy efficiency status of actual units are also analyzed. Then it is concluded that energy efficiency requirements for Chinese CACUs must be stricter. The investigation on the relationship between cooling capacity, unit type and energy efficiency ratio (EER) suggests it is proper to incorporate some unit types and simplify the partition of cooling capacity spectrums. According to existing simulation models and the properties of actual units, a simulation model, which is suit for studying EESs for CACUs, is established. The model can simulate lots of cases with different types of compressors, heat exchangers and throttling devices, as well as adopts those heat transfer correlations published recently. The model is used to calculate theoretical EERs of units with different design options (or design options combination). Afterwards a study is performed to determine the payback periods and life cycle costs corresponding to theoretically calculated EERs, which finds out technical feasibility is prior to other factors when establishing EESs for CACUs. Finally, new energy efficiency standards and energy efficiency grades for CACUs are presented based on the aforementioned researches. In addition, the significance of Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV) is analyzed. And some proposals on establishing IPLV of China are brought forward.An energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions forecasting model is established by scenario analysis method. Forecasting results indicate China will consume massive energy and emit substantive CO2 owing to building a well off society in an all round way. On this background, the energy savings and pollutant reductions forecasting model of EESs for CACUs is established. Predicted contribution of energy savings and environmental protection implementing these standards from 2004 to 2020 suggests it is greatly necessary to implement EESs. According to the relationship of matter, energy and information and dissipative structure theory, an analysis is carried out on the sustainable development of society. EESs can be regarded as a kind of information with high quality. The positive effects of EESs on energy savings and pollutant reductions embody the control of information on matter and energy. With the standpoint of entropy, the inner correlation between EESs and the sustainable development of society is deduced. The contribution of EESs to the sustainable development of society can be expressed as the following, i.e., they optimize energy consumption while fulfilling our needs. Obviously, EESs eliminate evitable entropy generation and further realize development with the least expense.