Comparative Investigation of the Energy Efficiency of Mini-Split Air Conditioning with Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems for Office Buildings in Hot Climate.

Abstract

Egypt is confronted with a critical issue of increasing electricity consumption, mainly attributable to the extensive usage of air conditioning equipment, especially in areas with high temperatures and dry circumstances such as Aswan city. This study addresses a comparative analysis of the energy saving of two air conditioning systems: a Mini-Split unit and a variable refrigerant flow system (VRF)for office Buildings located in Aswan City. The main goal is to examine their energy efficiency and suitability for addressing issues related to power usage. The main conclusions are clear-cut. The VRF system constantly shows a noticeable advantage in terms of energy efficiency, especially in the summer when it's hot outside. Its consistent year-round balanced energy performance highlights its flexibility in changing environmental conditions. A significant annual energy savings of about 19,187.43 kWh can be achieved by switching to the VRF system. The VRF system's estimated energy efficiency ratio to the MSAV system is roughly 0.746. This ratio highlights how energy-efficient the VRF is—it uses about 74.6% less energy for comparable or even better HVAC performance. Study backs energy-efficient HVAC for sustainable buildings, offering crucial insights to decision-makers. There is no doubt about the potential benefits of converting to the VRF system, especially in areas with various climates. These results contribute to the conversation about green HVAC systems and provide building managers and policymakers with valuable information to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. This research is a priceless tool for deciding on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly HVAC systems.