Standardizing Smart/Connected Products in a Highly Innovative and Dynamic Market

Robert Wilkins

Thursday, September 15, 2016

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

AHRI…

One of the nation’s larger trade associations including manufacturers of:

– Central air-conditioning, chillers and comfort heating systems

– Water heaters (gas and electric)

– Commercial refrigeration

Profile:

– 300+ manufacturers across 40+ product sections

– Establishes 100+ international industry standards & guidelines

– Administers 40+ rigorous performance certification programs

Scope:

– Promotes policies beneficial to the industry

– Represents the industry domestically & globally

– Administers a comprehensive industry statistics program

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AHRI & CEE Have Shared Interests

Our common residential customers might seek:

– Improved comfort

– Energy savings

– Minimizing occupant impact of demand response programs

Utilities might also seek:

– Energy savings

– Increased peak load reduction capability

– Improved communication, monitoring and data capabilities

– Less stress on distribution systems (reduced inrush, near unity PF)

Manufacturers might also seek:

– Increased sales responding to customer needs

Both have shared interests in expanding variable capacity HVAC

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Why a Shared Interest in Variable Speed HVAC? Two Value Streams

1. To Consumer (or Building Owner)

• Energy savings:

• Cooling: 4 to 6 SEER points

• Heating: 4 to 5 HSPF points

• Comfort:

• Tighter temperature control

• Enhanced dehumidification

• More heat

• Lower noise

2. To Electric Utility • Energy savings:

• Cooling: 4 to 6 SEER points • Heating: 4 to 5 HSPF points

• Enhanced demand/price response:

• Greater peak load reduction • Less impact on occupant comfort • Virtually no inrush current

• Ancillary services and related

• “Regulate” load to match fluctuating renewables generation, “virtual spinning reserves”

• Near unity power factor

• More heat—for colder climates

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1. To Consumer (or Building Owner)

• Energy savings:

• Cooling: 4 to 6 SEER points

• Heating: 4 to 5 HSPF points

• Comfort:

• Tighter temperature control

• Enhanced dehumidification

• More heat

• Lower noise

• Aligned DR programs:

• Energy savings incentives

• Demand response incentives

• Ancillary services incentives (future)

2. To Electric Utility • Energy savings:

• Cooling: 4 to 6 SEER points • Heating: 4 to 5 HSPF points

• Enhanced demand/price response:

• Greater peak load reduction • Less impact on occupant comfort • Virtually no inrush current

• Ancillary services and related

• “Regulate” load to match fluctuating renewables generation, “virtual spinning reserves”

• Near unity power factor

• More heat—for colder climates

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Why a Shared Interest in Variable Speed HVAC? Two Value Streams

Two Types of Variable Capacity HVAC

Continuously variable capacity (variable speed):

– Inverter-driven compressors, fans, blowers

– VS technology has advanced considerably in past decade

– VS compressors now common; wide range of sizes

– Japan is nearly 100% variable speed; China, following

Discretely variable capacity:

– Mechanically unloaded compressors

– Dual compressors

– Similar benefits to variable speed, but less dramatic

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Why Variable Speed?

Much higher energy efficiency

Improved comfort

– Tighter temperature & humidity control → warmer a/c set points

– Much more heat from heat pumps in cold weather

Enhanced demand response performance possible

– kW reduction much greater than cooling reduction

Could relieve older, strained distribution circuits & transformers

– Near unity power factor

– Almost no startup current inrush

– Ability to ramp up/down versus on/off to minimize transients

Mechanically unloaded: similar but less dramatic benefits

– AHRI Standard will include provisions for discretely variable

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Cooling: 95° F Heating: 47° F Heating: 17° F

VS Variable Speed System FS Fixed Speed System

Certified Capacity (Btuh in 000s)

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Cooling: SEER Cooling: 95° F EER

Heating: HSPF

Certified Efficiency

(SEER) (EER) (HSPF) FS

FS

FS FS FS

FS

VS VS

VS

VS

VS VS

Independent Laboratory Performance Certification

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Fixed Speed Variable Speed

SEER

EER @100% load

EER @ 75% load

Results of Load Control at Full Load Conditions:

Output reduction: 25%

Power reduction: ~25%

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How Variable Speed A/C Could Enhance Demand Response Simulated Performance

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Fixed Speed Variable Speed

SEER

EER @100% load

EER @ 75% load

Results of Load Control at Full Load Conditions:

Output reduction: 25%

Power reduction: ~25%

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How Variable Speed A/C Could Enhance Demand Response Simulated Performance

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Fixed Speed Variable Speed

SEER

EER @100% load

EER @ 75% load

Results of Load Control at Full Load Conditions: Alternative:

Output reduction: 25% 25% ~14%

Power reduction: ~25% ~43% 25%

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How Variable Speed A/C Could Enhance Demand Response Simulated Performance

Exploiting the Benefit of Variable Speed

Variable speed saves energy by running as slowly as possible while holding the temperature set point.

– Most efficient use of heat exchangers

– Some efficiencies in fans and blowers as well

Continuous operation achieves lowest possible speed & kW

Unload by imposing a lower kW set point, which reduces speed

– Avoid on-off operation or cycling compressor

– Avoid thermostat setback strategies

Replacing temperature set point with a kW set point allows indoor temperature to rise gradually

– Dehumidification and air movement continue

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Broad Spectrum of Systems in Buildings

High unit volume Single family homes Small commercial Discrete systems Unitary AC & HP Water heaters

No building EMS

Demand response

Many kW per bldg. Low unit volume DR aggregators Negotiated

contracts Controls capabilities readily available

Low unit volume Large multistory com’l

buildings Complex systems Chillers Heat recovery

Sophisticated EMS

Focus of AHRI, CEE and EPRI collaboration

Demand response

A few kW per bldg. Very high unit volume Direct communication with

HVAC & WH utilized Standardized utility programs PUC regulated

New a/c capabilities now available!!!

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Why a Standard?

Ensures consistent DR performance across manufacturers Enables product DR certification programs

– Independent labs confirm rated performance – AHRI penalties for test failures

Encourages utilities to migrate toward DR program alignment – Alignment would benefit both utilities and manufacturers

Expected benefits of AHRI, CEE and EPRI collaboration:

– Standardized requirements for protocols, signals & equipment performance

– Coordinated verification of performance vs. separate utilities – Integrated (or aligned) EE and DR programs for VSAC – Standardized demand-response-ready equipment in stock

Could this be a model for collaboration in other industry sectors?

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Steps We’re Taking toward a Standard

Achieving collaboration among interested stakeholders – Manufacturers (with AHRI) – Utilities (with CEE, EPRI) – Others (ORNL, PNNL, US EPA Energy Star, etc.)

Developing a shared vision – AHRI Ad hoc Committee

• White Paper (2013) and Framework Specification (2014)

– Technical Committee (TC) to develop a Standard • Future State Vision and Roadmap (2016) • Standard (now in development)

It takes time – To get the players on board – To establish a shared vision across two industries – To build consensus: everyone’s objectives won’t be met – We do hope to satisfy most of the objectives most of the time.

15

What is ANSI Accreditation?

ANSI is the American National Standards Institute

AHRI is an ANSI-accredited standards development body

– Open participation: inclusion of relevant stakeholders

• Producers

• Users

• General Interest

Once AHRI Standards are developed

– AHRI will apply for ANSI approval of the Standard

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Status of Standard Development

Published “Future State Vision” and “Roadmap” Process Flow Chart

Current steps in process: – WG1: Reviewed available protocols, identified requirements; recommended

• Open ADR2.0B • CEA2045

– WG2: Specifying signals and equipment response; considering “configuration signals”.

– Smart Thermostat Committee: Assessing lessons learned from smart thermostat development that could be relevant to us.

– Technical Committee met Tuesday here to review progress & status

Next steps: – Complete the Working Group and Committee work – Integrate these three efforts; review and refine – Convert the work into an actual Standard

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Opportunities for On-going Collaboration

Field confirmation of demand response performance

– Manufacturers & AHRI

– Utilities & CEE, EPRI, EPA Energy Star, National Labs

– Objective: establish a common approach, respecting major climate zones

Coordination or alignment of DR programs

– Utilities & CEE

Possible future uses of Standard:

– CEE Specs as bases for EE and DR programs

– AHRI certification program and directories

– EPA Energy Star consideration

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Thank you!

Appendix

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A Growing Crisis: Peak Utility Load

Increasing energy efficiency has offset growth in base utility load even as this region grew significantly, but peak demand continued to grow. Technologies such as variable capacity air-conditioning could be very useful in utility demand-response or price-response programs.

Source: DOE workshop, Southern California Edison, 4/22/2008

Outdoor Ambient

Utility Load

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13 18 25

Up

Fro

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Un

it C

ost

($

)

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

Up F

ront

Cost

($)

SEER

Variable�Speed

MechanicallyModulatedFixed

Speed

Not to scale.

VSAC will become more cost effective as volume increases, lowering the crossover point with mechanically modulated systems, and providing enhanced DR performance

Utilities lobby for the high “EER” that high-efficiency fixed-speed systems provide, but customers wouldn’t pay the price premium for them.

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Cost Efficient Technologies Conceptual Cost Relationships

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Managing Peaks and Valleys…..that are

dynamic

Core Opportunity

Variable Speed Air Conditioning Provides Parallel EE and DR (PR) Benefits – Saves energy – Improves power factor and power quality – Could reduce peak demand more effectively – Could regulate load through transient

conditions

First Costs Higher – 3 to 5 year simple payback without incentives

Issues: – How should equipment perform in DR/PR

event? – How should equipment communicate? – Coordinated EE and DR programs needed

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