Method of optimizing and rating a variable speed chiller for operation at part load

摘要

A method of optimizing the design of a chiller involves placing more emphasis on the chiller's performance at part load than at full load and rating the chiller accordingly. In some embodiments, compressor speed and impeller diameter are chosen to optimize the chiller's performance at part load. With the chosen impeller diameter, operation at full load is then achieved by increasing compressor speed, opening inlet guide vanes, and perhaps sacrificing some efficiency. If necessary, an inverter over speeds the compressor by driving it at a speed beyond that which the compressor would normally run if it were driven at the nominal line frequency of the electrical power feeding the inverter.