Chillers

May 2017

Technical bulletin on amending the standards

Webinar – May 2017

On March 4, 2017, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) issued a Notice of Intent to amend Canada’s EnergyEfficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to adopt more stringent standards for chillers. This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for chillers.

Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the Amendment 15 proposal. In addition, NRCan will undertake a cost-benefit analysis using the best-available Canadian market data to assess the economic and environmental impacts of these updated standards and to ensure Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from their implementation.

The Government of Canada intends to pre-publish a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette, Part I, within approximately two years of this bulletin.

Background

In Canada, chillers manufactured as of October 28, 2004 are subject to the Regulations. In 2016, the Regulations were amended to the same levels as those in the standard ASHRAE 90.1-2007. In 2013, ASHRAE 90.1 was updated to increase the stringency of the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). The Ontario Ministry of Energy has adopted the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 MEPS in their Ontario Regulation for products manufactured on or after January 1, 2017.

NRCan is considering aligning with the increased MEPS and testing standards of ASHRAE 90.1-2013 and Ontario.

Product description

A chiller is used to cool buildings. It is a machine designed to remove heat from liquid, usually water, and reject this heat to a cooling medium, usually air or water.

Energy performance testing standard

NRCan is considering referencing the following energy performance testing standards:

• AHRI 551/591-2011 with Addendum 1 – Performance Rating of Water-Chilling and Heat Pump Water-Heating Packages Using the Vapor Compression Cycle
• AHRI 560-2000 – Absorption Water Chilling and Water Heating Packages
• CSA 743-09 – Performance Standard for rating packaged water chillers. A revised version of this standard may be considered as an alternative test procedure.

The AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) testing standards are available at no cost on the AHRI website.

The CSA testing standard can be ordered from:
CSA Group
Toll free phone: 1-800-463-6727
In Toronto, call 416-747-4044
E-mail: sales@csagroup.org
Website: http://www.shop.csa.ca

Some CSA energy efficiency testing standards are also available at no cost on their website. To access free standards you will first need to create an account to join the CSA Communities of Interest.

Energy performance standard

Proposed minimum energy performance standard for chillers

Product type	Size category	Compliance path
		Path A		Path B
		COP full load kW/kW	COP IPLV kW/kW	COP full load kW/kW	COP IPLV kW/kW
Air-cooled chillers	< 528 kW	2.985	4.048	2.866	4.669
	≥ 528 kW	2.985	4.137	2.866	4.758
Water-cooled, electrically operated positive displacement chillers	< 264 kW	4.694	5.867	4.513	7.041
	≥ 264 kW and < 528 kW	4.889	6.286	4.694	7.184
	≥ 528 kW and < 1055 kW	5.334	6.519	5.177	8.001
	≥ 1055 kW and < 2110 kW	5.771	6.770	5.633	8.586
	≥ 2110 kW	6.286	7.041	6.018	9.264
Water-cooled, electrically operated centrifugal chillers	< 528 kW	5.571	6.401	5.065	8.001
	≥ 528 kW and < 1055 kW	5.771	6.401	5.544	8.801
	≥ 1055 kW and < 1407 kW	6.286	6.770	5.917	9.027
	≥ 1407	6.286	7.041	6.018	9.264

Note:
The requirements for centrifugal chillers shall be adjusted for nonstandard rating conditions per section 6.4.1.2.1 of ASHRAE 90.1-2013 and are only applicable for the range of conditions listed there.

Both the full-load and IPLV (Integrated Part Load Value) requirements must be met or exceeded to comply with the standard. Compliance can be with either Path A or Path B for any application.

There are no new requirements for absorption chillers.

Important dates

These regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

NRCan is considering applying updated standards to chillers manufactured on or after December 31, 2019.

Verification requirements

There is no change being considered for the energy efficiency verification requirements for this product.

Reporting requirements

Energy efficiency report

There is no change envisaged to the energy efficiency report requirements for chillers.

The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially for the first time.

Import report

There is no change to import reporting.

Comments invited

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with the technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for chillers.

Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found in the Department’s website.

We welcome your comments by May 30, 2017. All correspondence should be forwarded to:

Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
E-mail: nrcan.equipment.rncan@canada.ca