ENERGY SAVING EQUIPMENT
Demystifying the 2018 changes to chiller legislation
From 01 January 2018, as part of the latest phase of amendments to the European Commission’s EcoDesign Directive, industrial cooling and refrigeration equipment will be required to meet new, stringent minimum levels of energy-efficiency. Here, Richard Metcalfe, sales director at ICS Cool Energy, offers an overview of the changes and key action points for industrial end-users.
A
s of 01 January 2018, any new industrial cooling equipment entering the market must meet new minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) depending on chiller type and size.
The changes affect two product groups – known as ‘Lots’: Lot 1, which covers refrigeration and freezing equipment, including medium and low-temperature process chillers and condensing units; and Lot 21, which includes high-temperature process chillers and condensing units, and comfort chillers. However, these will not be the only long-term changes to affect cooling equipment, as the new MEPS which come into effect in January 2018 are set to become even more stringent in January 2021.
What are MEPS, and why are they important?
The annual cost of running industrial cooling and refrigeration systems can often turn into a five-figure sum over the course of a year. Operational costs are exacerbated by old or inefficient equipment, many of which would not come near the efficiency standards due to come into force in January 2018. MEPS are split into two main categories, one for process chillers and one for comfort chillers.
Process chillers
Process chillers must meet new Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) metrics. This is calculated based on the below part load efficiency levels, and expressed as a ratio.
Again, the minimum efficiency levels products need to achieve differ depending on whether it is an air or water-cooled chiller, as well as the rated cooling capacity and the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the refrigerant used. Common refrigerants such as R410a and R134a have a GWP well above 150.
Comfort Chillers
Comfort chillers must meet new Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) values. This is the overall energy efficiency ratio of the comfort chiller for the cooling season, and is calculated using the below part load efficiency expressed as a percentage.
SEPRs are the most relevant values for manufacturers and industrial end-users to be aware of. The minimum efficiency levels products need to achieve are as follows. However, they may differ depending on the type of chiller (air or water- cooled) and the rated cooling capacity:
48 January 2018
www.acr-news.com
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