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Engineering Laboratory /Building Energy & Environment Division

HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group

The HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group expands the scientific knowledge of air-conditioning, heat pumping, and refrigeration technology. The Group's focus is to improve the energy efficiency of HVAC&R equipment, which is the predominant end-user of energy in buildings. The research activities include innovative and fundamental heat transfer measurements of refrigerants; experimental and analytical studies of systems and components; development of

The research activities encompass analytical and experimental studies of new-generation refrigerants; experimental and simulation investigations of space-conditioning systems in current and net-zero energy buildings; and research of novel cooling/refrigeration technologies.  The current projects include: 

  • Characterization of the performance potential of novel refrigerants
  • Development of test and predictive methods for characterization of flammability of mildly flammable single-component refrigerants and refrigerant blends
  • Fundamental two-phase heat transfer measurements for new generation single-component refrigerants and refrigerant blends
  • Development of automated fault detection and diagnostic methods for field-assembled air conditioners and heat pumps
  • Development of computational intelligence-based tools for optimization of component and system designs
  • System studies through laboratory measurements and computer simulations

The best-known contributions of the Group are those related to the research of environmentally-acceptable refrigerants, the development of advanced simulation tools, and the formulation of the SEER and HSPF performance descriptors for the test procedures of residential air conditioners and heat pumps.

Staff Directory

News and Updates

Projects and Programs

heatpump fan

Fault Detection and Diagnostics for Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Ongoing
Objective - Develop fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) methods and measurement tools to ensure air conditioners (ACs) and heat pumps (HPs) perform as designed throughout their lifetime and develop a testing and rating methodology to assess relative merits of different commercial FDD products. What

Flammability Metrics for New Low-GWP Refrigerants

Ongoing
Objective: To develop the capability to measure and predict the burning velocity of mixtures of low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants to allow the ranking of the mixtures in terms of their flammability, to assist in the selection and implementation of the best replacements for high-GWP
Researchers use novel fluids with nanoparticles to improve the efficiency of chillers that cool large buildings.

Low-GWP Refrigerants for High-Efficiency HVAC&R Equipment

Ongoing
Objective - To develop heat transfer and system performance information that will assist in the selection and implementation of the best replacements for high-GWP hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). What is the new technical idea? Most of the currently used HFC refrigerants will be phased out or phased down
Measurement of the air velocity profile exiting a section of the rooftop air-conditioning unit's heat exchanger

Space-Conditioning Options for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Ongoing
Objective: Develop and deploy the measurement science to support the development and implementation of the most efficient and cost-effective space-conditioning options for energy-efficient buildings. What is the new technical idea? (Tasks 1-4): The unique aspects of high-efficiency homes require new

Publications

Software

Awards

Products and Services

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EVAP-COND

REFLEAK

 

Publications

Contaminant Accumulation and Removal in Building Plumbing Systems

Contacts