Credit: Oak Ridge National Lab
Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Oak Ridge, TN
Partners: General Electric - Fairfield, CT
DOE Funding: $1,540,000
Cost Share: Provided by CRADA partners
Project Term: October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2015
Project Objective
This project is designing and developing a high-efficiency 13 energy-efficiency-ratio (EER) window air conditioner. The technology will be used in single-family and small, low-rise multifamily residential buildings and certain types of small commercial buildings. There are approximately 57 million installed window air conditioning units, with an annual energy consumption of 0.33 quads. With more than 8 million units shipped each year, high-efficiency units could make a significant impact on sector energy use in a short amount of time, given the known replacement rate.
ORNL will evaluate system design strategies, develop the lab breadboard design, and test the unit in an environmental chamber. The ORNL HPDM beta version 8 is being used to design the prototype that is being tested in the environmental chamber at ORNL. Some of the advanced components of the prototype will include high EER compressor, ECM fan motor and advanced heat exchangers.
Project Impact
ORNL's business case analyses estimate a cumulative energy savings potential of 1.1 quads for the period 2015–2030 for a 13 EER window air conditioner, compared to a typical new unit with an EER of 9.8.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Tony Bouza
Performer: Ed Vineyard, Oak Ridge National Laboratory