Coolerado 5 Ton RTU Performance: Western Cooling Challenge Results

摘要

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is tasked, through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Building Technology, to evaluate the performance of advanced cooling concepts that meet or exceed the performance criteria developed by the Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC). The WCEC has developed a set of criteria for test conditions, minimum energy, and water use performance for prototype cooling equipment. The WCEC has identified these conditions as indicative of western state climates. These criteria, named the Western Cooling Challenge (WCC), have been set forth as a challenge to manufacturers to improve the state-of-the-art space cooling products. NREL is to verify these criteria through laboratory testing at its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) test facility in Golden, Colorado, which is uniquely suited to accurately measure the cooling performance, energy, and water use of advanced cooling systems. The facility provides flexibility to test prototype equipment and develop subsequent test methodology. Data are analyzed and reported to reflect performance at sea level elevation.