VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system – an extensive multi-zone air conditioning system, which consists of multiple indoor units connected by a refrigeration pipeline to one or more chillers. VRF is most often used in buildings with tens or hundreds of rooms – hotels, office buildings, shopping centres… But increasingly, customers are ordering VRF systems for smaller properties – single-family houses, shops, kindergartens, offices. Such systems have a smaller number of indoor units and are called Mini VRF.
Principles of VRF systems
A VRF system can have from two to a dozen indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit. To one system, dozens or even hundreds of indoor units can be connected, increasing the number of units to as many as a dozen. An additional advantage is that the VRF system can be expanded even during building operation. At the same time, it is possible to use different types of indoor units – wall units, cassette units, duct units, under-floor units.
VRF 2-pipe systems are the most common and allow all indoor units to work only in the same mode – cooling or heating.
VRF 3-pipe systems are more advanced and more expensive units. However, by installing such a system, the user has the option to switch on individual indoor units in different modes independently of each other. For example, in winter, most rooms are switched on in heating mode and the server room continues to cool down with units switched on in cooling mode, or the entire building is cooled in summer with indoor units switched on in cooling mode, while for DHW or pool heating, water in the storage tank is heated.
The indoor units are connected to the chiller by a single ‘line’ of refrigeration piping with branches to individual units or groups of units. Control of each indoor unit is via individual remote controls, group remote controls or a single common controller often linked to the building management system. Depending on the demand in cooling or heat, the controller changes the amount of refrigerant in each indoor unit at any particular time. Hence the name of the VRF system – Variable Refrigerant Flow.
VRF – advantages
- the possibility of connecting dozens or even hundreds of units to a single system;
- the possibility of simultaneous operation of indoor units in different modes, which gives a big advantage over fancoil type systems and smaller Multi-Split systems;
- lower costs of the VRF system compared to Split and Multi-Split systems;
- lower operating costs;
- the possibility of integration with the building management system (BMS);
- maintaining a high level of aesthetics by reducing the number of outdoor units with the possibility of placing them on the roof, in the courtyard or in the underground garage;
- the possibility of using longer cooling systems (hundreds of metres in the VRF system) compared to Multi-Split systems (up to 80m.b.);
One of the most important advantages is the possibility of installing the outdoor unit at a large distance from the indoor units (100-150m), while having the possibility of running large sections vertically (tens of metres). These conditions can only be met by a VRF system and they occur quite often – for example, in an office building that has 16 floors and the units are located on the roof. Such distances and such heights can only be overcome by a VRF system. Another example is the use of a VRF system in a detached house – only such a system will allow an aggregate to be placed in a gazebo in a further corner of the plot.
How much does a VRF system cost
The price is individual for each facility and can range from a dozen to several hundred thousand PLN. It depends on a number of factors – the number and power of indoor units, the power of the chiller, the extent of the system, of course the brand of the unit and the method of control, etc. The exact price can be calculated after seeing the installation site and making a VRF system design.
It is often the case that the cost of a VRF system including installation is comparable or even less than the cost of Split or Multi-Split systems with similar parameters.
I-Klimat Sp. z o.o. engineers are ready to perform the selection of the VRF system and technicians professionally perform the installation of the VRF system – they have the appropriate knowledge, experience and all the necessary tools.
A free quote can be ordered in three ways:
- fill in the contact form on the website;
- write an e-mail enquiry;
- call the office at +48 691 222 252
See how the VRF system installation is carried out by us:
