Application of a lumped model for predicting energy performance of a variable-speed vapour compression system

This work presents a model for a variable-speed vapour compression system that is able to predict accurately the system performance using data easily obtained from an industrial facility. The model uses information on the secondary fluids input conditions and the compressor speed to predict the secondary fluids output temperatures, the operating pressures, the compressor power consumption and the system overall energy performance. This model has been validated experimentally with steady state tests, presenting a prediction error lower than 10%. Finally, an application of the model to evaluate the influence of the operating variables on the energy performance of a chiller is presented.