Proposed Regulations for Packaged Water Chillers

Bulletin – February 2003

Packaged Water Chillers

New Regulations

The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is proposing to amend Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) under which dealers in Canada would be required to comply with a minimum energy efficiency performance level for packaged water chillers that are imported or shipped interprovincially for sale or lease in Canada.

NRCan is concerned with the energy efficiency of packaged water chillers imported into Canada. Due to environmental concerns, certain refrigerants are being phased out, which encourages refrigerant conversions or early replacement of existing equipment. With early replacement, it is an opportunity to improve the efficiency and reduce operating costs of these packaged water chillers, which will be in service for many years.

The purpose of this document is to provide stakeholders with background information for meaningful consultation on the content of the new regulation before proceeding with pre-publication in the Canada Gazette. This bulletin attempts to address key issues that have been raised. It is not intended to provide a definitive representation of the proposed regulation.

Background

Packaged water chillers are not presently regulated under Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations, which came into effect on February 3, 1995. NRCan is in the process of amending these Regulations to include packaged water chillers.

The CSA standard (C743-02) for packaged water chillers has recently been revised. NRCan proposes to regulate the efficiency of vapour-compression and absorption chillers to the levels of performance stated in Table 9 in CSA-C743-02, "Performance Standard for Rating Packaged Water Chillers." Because those levels of performance have already been accepted by the CSA's committees, NRCan believes that there is significant support to adopt these levels of efficiency.

NRCan has completed a market study for packaged water chillers sold in Canada and found that most chillers meet the proposed levels of efficiency. However, there are two types and sizes where there are significant numbers below the proposed minimums. These are air-cooled packaged water chillers with condensers with less than 528 kW (150 tons) cooling capacity and water-cooled centrifugal chillers with less than 1055 kW (300 tons) cooling capacity.

Product Description

NRCan is proposing that the Regulations apply to factory-designed and prefabricated vapour-compression chillers that have a cooling capacity of less than 7000 kW (2000 tons) with water condenser and less than 700 kW (200 tons) with air condenser. These packaged water chillers are intended for application in air-conditioning systems for buildings.

Absorption chillers of up to 5600 kW (1600 tons) are also to be included in the Regulations.

Energy Performance Test Procedure

The classification of equipment and testing procedure is described in CSA-C743-02, "Performance Standard for Rating Packaged Water Chillers." This standard is available from

Proposed Energy Efficiency Standards

NRCan is proposing that packaged water chillers manufactured on or after the effective date must meet the minimum coefficient of performance (COP) and integrated part-load value (IPLV) as specified in CSA-C743-02, Section 6, and listed in Table 9 (shown here as Table 1) and in Tables 10 to 15 of CSA-C743-02.

Table 1. Minimum COP and IPLV of Packaged Water Chilling Packages (Standard Rating Conditions)

Tables 10 to 15 in CSA-C743-02 allow equipment that is intended to operate at other than standard conditions to comply.

Economic Analysis

NRCan uses a benefit-cost analysis to determine the economic attractiveness of improving the energy efficiency of packaged water chillers. The net present value, calculated by subtracting the present value of the incremental costs from the present value of the incremental savings over the life of the product is chosen as the indicator of economic attractiveness. The base case analysis used a 7 percent social discount rate, as prescribed by Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada.

Montréal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver were chosen for analysis. Sensitivity analyses of the discount rate and electricity price were conducted.

The NRCan market study revealed that most equipment of the types and sizes defined in Table 1 already meet the proposed efficiency levels. Only two categories were analysed in greater detail because there are a significant number of units that are below the proposed efficiency levels. These categories are

• air-cooled with condenser, less than 528 kW (150 tons)
• water-cooled centrifugal, greater than 1055 kW (300 tons)

For air-cooled units of less than 528 kW, the net financial result is slightly negative if the proposed levels are implemented. Since most equipment in this category meets the proposed minimums, NRCan intends to go ahead and adopt the proposed minimum level.

For centrifugal chillers of more than 300 tons, the analysis shows a significant economic benefit in adopting the proposed minimum.

Verification Requirements

The same verification requirements that apply to other products regulated under the Energy Efficiency Regulations will apply to packaged water chillers.

Regulated packaged water chillers will carry a verification mark indicating that the energy performance of the product has been verified. The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada accredited certification organization that administers an energy performance verification program for this product. This organization must be recognized by NRCan. NRCan will accept labels issued by a province indicating that the product meets the provincial energy efficiency levels as a verification mark, providing that the provincial level is equivalent to or exceeds the federally regulated level.

Reporting Requirements

The energy efficiency report (as per Section 5 of Canada's Energy Efficiency Act) required for packaged water chillers will include the following information:

• product name (i.e., packaged water chiller)
• manufacturer's name
• brand or model name
• model number
• equipment type and capacity range (corresponds to the description in Table 1 of this bulletin, or to Table 9 of CSA-C743-02, "Performance Standard for Rating Packaged Water Chillers")
• capacity (size) in kW (tons)
• COP and IPLV

This report must be submitted by the dealer to the Minister of NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded interprovincially for the first time.

Importing Requirements

A dealer who imports these products into Canada must include the following information on the customs release document:

• type of product
• model number
• brand name, if any
• name and address of the dealer importing the product
• purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e., for sale or lease in Canada without modification, for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards, or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada).

Harmonization

The performance measurement standard CSA-C743-02 is compatible with ARI 550/590 and 560 and ASHRAE 30 and 90.1.

Energy efficiency levels proposed are the same as in ASHRAE 90.1-1999.

Effective Dates

NRCan is proposing that these energy efficiency standards for packaged water chillers come into effect on October 29, 2004.

Comments Invited

This bulletin is being issued to gather industry comments. If there is sufficient interest, a workshop may be scheduled to discuss this proposal.

Written comments should be sent by April 15, 2003, and be directed to

Brian Killins
Senior Standards Engineer
Office of Energy Efficiency
Natural Resources Canada
615 Booth Street, Room 479
Ottawa ON  K1A 0E4
E-mail: bkillins{AT}nrcan.gc.ca