AIR-CON SYSTEM EFFICIENCY PRIMER:
A SUMMARY
BackgroundAir conditioning is widely used in Singapore with its hot and humid conditions. In our hot and humid climate, theenergy consumed by Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) typically comprises up to 50%1 of totalenergy consumption in a building. Figure 1 displays the breakdown.

10%

50%

20%
Air-conditioning
Mechanical ventilation
Lighting

20%

OthersFigure 1: Breakdown of energy consumption within a building 1

There is potential to improve the overall efficiency of the air-conditioning systems in Singapore. e.g. Many airconditioned spaces in commercial, hotel and office buildings in Singapore have low temperature settings tocompensate for inadequate air distribution in some areas.

Distribution of Air-Conditioning Energy Consumption
The approximate distribution of the energy consumption within air conditioning is 55% for the chiller, 35% for fans,
5% for pumps, and 5% for cooling towers. This highlights the importance of energy efficiency of the chiller in theentire cooling process. Figure 2 displays the breakdown of air-conditioning energy consumption.2

Singapore’s Second National Communication: Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(November 2010), NEA.
2
Roth K. R., Westphalen D. Dieckmann J., Hamilton S.D., Goetzler W.; “Energy Consumption Characteristics of Commercial
Building HVAC Systems Volume III: Energy Savings Potential”.TIAX LLC Cambridge MA 02140-2390. TIAX Reference
No.68370-00
1

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

1

33

Exhaust Fans

2

Fan Powered Terminal Boxes

5
1

50

Conderser Fans
Cooling Tower Fans

5

Heating Water Pumps
Condenser Water Pumps

2

2

Chilled Water Pumps
Supply/Return Fans

Figure 2: Breakdown of energy consumption of commercial HVAC 2

Unitary and Central Air-Conditioning Systems in Singapore
In Singapore, most air-conditioning systems can be broadly classified into:
a. Unitary systems, which are usually simple self-contained air conditioners. These systems cover split room
units, packaged units, and more advanced systems capable of varying the refrigerant flow rates (VRV);
b. Central air-conditioning systems served by chilled water producing plants (also known as Chillers). Central airconditioning systems are further sub-classified into:(i)	All air systems, which circulate air treated in a central location to the conditioned space. Such systems
include Constant Air Volume (CAV) systems and Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems.
(ii)	Air-water systems, where chilled water is circulated to fan coils and induction units located in theconditioned space.
For a cooling area above 10,000m2, water-cooled chillers are more efficient, rather than split-type units commonlyused in households. These are typically used in commercial buildings. The authors recommend the possible
replacement of existing infrastructure every 10 years to benefit from advances in technology. The improved
efficiency could result in energy savings which shorten the payback time to as low as 3 years.

2

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Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

Energy Auditing and Building Standards in Singapore
The energy auditing and building standards are as follows:(i)	All large air-conditioned public sector office buildings, as well as polytechnics and ITEs, with central airconditioning systems and air-conditioned areas greater than 10,000m2 will be energy audited by FY2011.
Infrastructure facilities will also be energy audited by FY2012.
(ii)

Large central air-conditioning systems in buildings will be fitted with instrumentation to monitor the coefficientof performance (COP). The air-conditioning systems must be upgraded to achieve a COP 3 of at least 4.7 at thenext available opportunity.

(iii)	An increase of 1oC in the air-conditioned indoor air temperature could reduce air-conditioning electricity
consumption by about 3%. All public agencies are required to ensure that the ambient indoor air temperatureof all public sector premises remains no lower than the recommended range of 22.5oC to 25.5oC.
(iv)	All new office information and communication technology equipment will meet the latest Energy Star
standards, where available, from FY2009 onwards.4

Public Sector Taking The Lead
The public sector is taking the lead by using energy and resources more efficiently. As part of this effort, public
sector buildings will have to meet energy efficiency targets to reduce energy expenditure. Complementing the
Public Sector Taking the Lead initiative, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has come up with the 2nd
Green Building Masterplan5 which consists of six strategic thrusts, as shown in Figure 3.
Strategic Thrust 1, which is Public Sector Taking The Lead (PSTTL) requires all existing government buildings
owned by government agencies, with more than 10,000m2 air-conditioned floor area to attain the BCA GreenMark GoldPlus standard by 2020. As for new public sector buildings with more than 5,000m2 air-conditioned floorarea, including buildings whose development costs are fully or partly funded by government agencies (e.g. newuniversities and hospitals), these buildings will have to achieve the Green Mark Platinum rating.

The COP, achieved by the system in which the compressor is connected to operate, is the ratio of the rate of heat removalfrom the space to be cooled (kW cooling) to the energy input rate required by the system (kW in).
4
www.e2singapore.com
5
2nd Green Building Masterplan (2009), BCA. www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/others/gbmp2.pdf
3Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

3

Strategic
ThrustStrategic
Thrust2Strategic
Thrust3

Spurring The
Private Sector

Furthering The
Development Of
Green Building
Technology

1

Public Sector
Taking The Lead

2nd Green
Building
Masterplan
Strategic
ThrustStrategic
Thrust4

Building Industry
Capabilities ThroughTraining

Strategic
Thrust5

Profiling Singapore
And Raising
Awareness

6

Imposing MinimumStandards

Figure 3: 2nd Green Building Masterplan Strategic Thrusts 5

Beyond improving building energy efficiency, all agencies are also encouraged to adopt environmentally sustainable
practices that are cost beneficial, such as participating in the Water Efficient Building and Eco-Office rating
frameworks developed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the Singapore Environment Council respectively, andimplementing recycling programmes.
Through this PSTTL initiative, the public sector aims to demonstrate the associated environmental and economic
benefits and set an example for the private sector. Public agencies are also encouraged to finance and implement
their energy efficiency improvements through Performance Contracting.4 More information on performance
contracting is given in Appendix A.
The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and National Environmental Agency (NEA) jointly
launched the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe) in 2005. Under this scheme, owners andoperators of facilities in the manufacturing sector can obtain 50% subsidies for the engagement of energy services
companies (ESCOs) to conduct energy audits on a voluntary basis. This scheme has since been extended to othercommercial users and households. In addition, for large energy consumers,6 an energy manager has to oversee theusage of the organisation to ensure energy efficiency measures are put in place.

64

Large consumers are mainly industrial (and other commercial) users whose monthly consumption exceeds 10,000 kWh.

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Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

Separately, the BCA has rolled out Green Mark Incentive Schemes for new buildings as well as existing buildings.
Under the new buildings incentive scheme, buildings which achieve the higher Green Mark ratings, namely the
GoldPlus and Platinum rating, will be given bonus Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 1% and 2% respectively. For existingbuildings, a $100 million incentive comprising of 2 components, the cash incentive as well as the health check
scheme, has been rolled out to encourage existing buildings to go Green. Existing buildings which meet therequirements can be given cash incentives of up to $1.5 million for the co-funding of energy efficient retrofits.
In the latest Green Mark Version 4 for new buildings (updated in December 2010),7 minimum standards for
instrumentations monitoring the central chilled-water plant efficiency as well as the verification of the central
chilled-water plant efficiencies have also been incorporated. The minimum air-conditioning system efficiencies forGreen Mark Certification have also been raised and are shown in Figure 4. Higher rating categories (Gold Plus andPlatinum) have higher efficiency requirements (lower kW/RT).

Peak Building Cooling Load
Green Mark Rating

Type of Air-Conditioning System< 500 RT

≥ 500 RT

Efficiency (kW/RT)
Certified

Water-Cooled Chilled-Water Plant

Certified

Air-Cooled Chilled-Water Plant or
Unitary Air-Conditioners

0.80

0.70

0.90

0.80

Figure 4: Minimum air-conditioning system efficiencies for Green Mark Certification 7

An Example of Savings from Improving the Efficiency of Chiller systems
The Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore had upgraded its air-conditioning plants. It had operated an air-conditioning
system of 3,252 refrigeration tonnes (RT) capacity at an average efficiency of 1.22 kW per RT. It has since upgraded
the air-conditioning system with better equipment. The current installed capacity is 2,600 RT with an averagesystem efficiency of 0.68 kW per RT. The project has resulted in a saving of 14,400 kWh of electricity per day.8

7
8

www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/others/gm_nonresi_v4.pdf
Singapore’s First National Communication: Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2000),
NEA.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

5

Efficiency and savingS: Unitary systems
Besides commercial buildings, the average household can also save money by investing in a more efficient airconditioning unit. This is indicated by a higher number of energy efficiency “ticks” for the unit. A comparison of
the cost savings from changing to a 4-tick unit over a 1-tick unit is given in Figure 5. The life-cycle cost is much
lower, almost half, due to cost savings in electricity consumption. This is true for the whole range of 1- to 4-tick
air-conditioners.9 (See Figure 6)

No of ticks

1-tick

4-tickPurchase price$1,590$2,180Lifespan energy cost

$10,690$5,470Total life cycle cost

$12,280$7,650Figure 5: Comparison of 1 tick and 4 tick air-conditioner costs 9

Lifespan energy cost
Purchase

Figure 6: Comparison of capital expenditure and operating expenditure 996Energy Challenge Brochure (May 2010), NEA.

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Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

Such split incentives in cost are most apparent in commercial settings where the capital expenditure is borne by
one party and the operating expenditure is borne by another. The chiller units are often oversized by the developer
to ensure that occupants do not complain that the space temperature is too high. Also, the developer does not haveto bear the long-term operating cost, which is usually paid by the tenants/users of the building. Accurate sizing ofchiller units for central air-conditioning would help to alleviate the problem of over-cooling in commercial buildings,
and lead to sizable cost and energy savings.

Human Thermal Comfort
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) defines Human
Thermal Comfort as the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding environment. The purposeof air-conditioning is to maintain thermal comfort conditions for occupants in a building. It must be stressed that
thermal comfort is not dependent upon temperature alone and includes other factors such as humidity and vapour
pressure.
ASHRAE has developed an internationally accepted standard to describe comfort requirements in buildings.10 This
Standard allows the comfort charts to be applied to spaces where the occupants have specified physical activity
levels and where clothing is worn that provides specific level of thermal insulation. (See Figure 7)

Figure 7: ASHRAE thermal comfort chart 10

However, as Singapore does not have four seasons in a year, the ASHRAE recommendations have to be adapted
to suit our unique circumstances. Recommended indoor conditions appropriate for our climatic conditions are
specified in Singapore Standard SS553:2010. The design temperature is between 23 to 25°C, with relative humidity
not exceeding 65%.

10

	ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

7

Overview of HVAC System
A HVAC system in buildings may be described in general terms as a system for providing the right conditions
inside the building for the thermal comfort of the occupants or the operating requirements of equipment andprocesses. It will usually involve the addition or removal of heat or moisture between the building interior and theexterior environment. In Singapore, because of our climatic conditions, air-conditioning primarily involves coolingand dehumidification processes.

Figure 8 shows a schematic of a typical building HVAC system, divided into five heat transfer loops11:i.

Indoor air loop includes fans, cooling coils, terminal units, dampers, ducts, and controls. The air in theconditioned space is driven by fans through cooling coils and then distributed to terminal units. Dampers areused to control airflows to terminal units and fans are used to maintain a given air pressure in ducts. The
cooling and ventilation loads are transferred from the conditioned space to chilled water.

ii.	Chilled water loop includes pipes, pumps, cooling coils, chiller evaporators, valves, and controls. The chilledwater in pipes is driven by pumps to circulate between cooling coils and chiller evaporators. Valves are used
to control the water flow to cooling coils. The heat is transferred from air handling units (AHUs) to chiller
evaporators.
iii.	Refrigerant loop includes evaporators, compressors, condensers, expansion valves and controls. The refrigerant
absorbs heat in chiller evaporators by changing phase from liquid to gas. The working of compressors makes
the refrigerant a high pressure and high temperature state. The refrigerant with high temperature is cooled inchiller condensers. The high pressure refrigerant in gas is released by expansion valves back to evaporators
again with phase change. The heat is transferred from chiller evaporators to chiller condensers.
iv.	Condenser water loop includes cooling towers, chiller condensers, pumps and controls. The condenser waterin chillers is delivered to cooling towers by pumps. The heat is transferred from chiller condensers to cooling
towers.
v.	Outdoor air loop includes fans, cooling towers, and controls. The outdoor air is driven by fans to go throughcooling towers and to exchange heat with condenser water. The heat is transferred from cooling towers toambient environment.
A refrigeration machine is used to maintain the evaporator coil at its low temperature by circulating a refrigerant
through the coil. The refrigerant vapour at the evaporator coil is pumped to a higher pressure by a mechanicalcompressor where it is condensed to a liquid at another set of condenser coils. The high pressure liquid refrigerant
is then allowed to expand in the evaporator coil again to complete the cycle. The heat absorbed at the evaporator
coil is pumped by the refrigeration machine and rejected to the ambient at the condenser coils. Mechanical work
is needed to drive the compressor. The amount of effort needed to drive the compressor is very dependent on thetemperature difference at the evaporator and the condenser. The greater the difference in temperature, the greater
is the effort.

11

8

Lu L., Cai W., Chai Y. S., Xie L; ”Global optimisation for overall HVAC systems-Part I problem, formulation and analysis”.
Energy Conversion and Management, 46 (2005) p.999-1014.

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Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

This explains why in a simple air-conditioner, a higher thermostat set-point temperature saves energy.

Similarly, a reduction in the condensing temperature saves energy.

Figure 8: The schematic of a typical building HVAC system

Opportunities to improve Energy Efficiency(A) Use of Desiccants To Improve Energy Efficiency of Chillers
Imported air conditioners are designed to work in both summer and winter conditions. Singapore is a tropicalcountry with an average annual ambient relative humidity of 85%. Conventional air-conditioning in hot-humid
climates consists of cooling and dehumidification of the air in the conditioned space to maintain human thermal
comfort. This is achieved by flowing moist air over a finned cooling coil whose surface is maintained below themoist air dew point temperature. The air gets cooled and dehumidified.

Since energy consumed by the chiller depends very much upon the surface temperature of thecooling coil, the energy consumed by the chiller would be reduced significantly by raising this surface
temperature. Thus, if the removal of moisture in the air12 can be handled by other means apart fromcondensation, e.g. by the use of desiccant, the cooling energy13 can be reduced. Other forms of energy
are still required to regenerate the desiccant (waste heat from industrial processes, solar thermal, etc.), but there
can still be an overall reduction in energy consumed by this process of separately cooling by refrigeration anddehumidification by desiccant. Some newer technologies that may reduce the energy needs of air-conditioning are
given in Appendix B.

12
13

The energy removed from the air is considered the sensible load.
The energy in the moisture removed forms the latent load.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

9

(B) Improvements Needed to Existing Control Systems
The adoption of advanced reliable and cost effective control systems aims to optimise the running of the HVAC
system. The current Building Automation Systems (BAS) and Energy Management Systems (EMS) do provide
certain procedures to improve energy efficiencies and human comfort for building HVAC processes. However, theauthors assess that the very large amount of data involved places huge burdens on the communication
network and the processing capacities of the systems. In order to relieve these burdens, they treat many
variables as constants and each of these function loops operates independently. This kind of operation
will require more energy than actually required for the circulation of refrigerant, air, or water to maintain thespecified indoor environment. Wireless technology as well as improved communications protocols, efficient sensor
nodes and sensor network platform should be developed. With the deployed sensor nodes, information regarding
various outdoor and indoor environmental conditions can be obtained.
(C) Optimisation of Air Distribution
The parasitic energy for transferring heat from the conditioned space to the cooling equipment is a significant
part of the cooling system energy consumption. Various schemes are available to minimise energy use in the
distribution system, such as a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) which separates the fresh air requirementsfrom the re-circulated space air-conditioned air, and the use of chilled beams and radiant panels which achieveenergy savings through a reduction of fan energy for air circulation and the use of radiant cooling, albeit requiring
more chilled water distribution. Innovative air distribution systems can also supply just the right amount of fresh
air locally to meet the physiological and air quality demands. (See Appendix B) The authors assess that energy

use by the air distribution in the HVAC system can be minimised through an understanding of the local
needs and optimising the manner in which the cooling energy is supplied through various innovative
schemes.

Local Research Testbeds
There are local research testbeds, which focus on some areas of air-conditioning efficiency, within both NTU and
NUS. In particular, the Single Coil Twin Fan System by Enhanced Air Quality Pte Ltd (NUS) has been testbeddedin the Zero Energy Building at the BCA Academy. Examples of research testbeds in Singapore are described at
Appendix C.

10

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Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

Areas of R&D for Singapore
Although Singapore is not a manufacturer of HVAC systems, the authors feel that there is a case for the local
development of HVAC technologies suited for local hot and humid conditions. The authors recommend thatareas of R&D for air-conditioning efficiency for Singapore should include:a. Desiccant cooling technologies, such as sorption dehumidification14 and desiccant materials;
b. Control systems, such as sensor network platforms; andc. Innovative air distribution schemes
Separately, the mass implementation of best practices would include avoid oversizing of chillers, thus reducing
excessive energy consumption for cooling of buildings. Improvement in the layout and position of thermostats toensure proper measurement and verification according to best-in-class performance benchmarks would also improvethe efficiency of systems in existing buildings. These can be done even using the current state of technologies,
while better solutions are being developed.

CO2 Reduction Enabled by improving Aircon System Efficiency
The use of electricity generated by fossil fuel sources is a source of CO2 emissions. Reduction of energy usedthrough improved air conditioning system efficiency can reduce emissions significantly, as air-conditioning is amain component the energy consumption of buildings.

14

Sorption dehumidification is heat driven and utilises the difference in the vapour pressure between process air and desiccants
to realise humidity control. Sorption dehumidification can be further classified into two categories, namely, adsorption
dehumidification (solid desiccant) and absorption dehumidification (liquid desiccant). When the desiccant material is coldand dry, its vapour pressure is lower than process air and moisture transfer from the air to the desiccant material takes place.
Consequently, process air is dehumidified

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

11

Main contributors:
National University of Singapore (NUS)	Associate Professor Christopher YAP (Lead Author)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
	Associate Professor Wenjian CAI (Lead Author)
	Associate Professor Kim Tiow OOI	Kok Chuan TOH, Principal Research Scientist, Temasek Laboratories @NTU
Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N)
	Dr Giuseppe “Joe” CALLAVARO (Technical Writer)
Ms Eva K PILLAI (Technical Writer)

Disclaimer, Limitation of Liability
This report represents the personal opinions of the contributors. The contributors, ERI@N, the National Universityof Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) exclude any legal liability for any statement madein the report. In no event shall the contributors, ERI@N, NUS and NTU of any tier be liable in contract, tort, strict
liability, warranty or otherwise, for any special, incidental or consequential damages, such as, but not limited to,delay, disruption, loss of product, loss of anticipated profits or revenue, loss of use of equipment or system, nonoperation or increased expense of operation of other equipment or systems, cost of capital, or cost of purchase or
replacement equipment systems or power.

Acknowledgement
The authors have benefited from comments from several colleagues from NUS, NTU and A*STAR as well as fromthe following governmental agencies: BCA, EDB, MEWR, MTI, NCCS, NEA and NRF. In particular, we would like tomention: Yew Wah WONG (NTU). Finally we thank Dr Joe CALLAVARO (ERI@N) for his tireless effort in updating
and consolidating the many versions of this Technology Primer.

This report was first published in August 2011. The contents of the primer reflect the views of the authors and not the official views of thegovernment agencies. The publication of the primers has been made possible by NCCS and NRF, and reproduction of the content is subject tothe written consent of the authors, NCCS and NRF.

12

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

APPENDIX A
Performance Contracting
Performance contracting is an arrangement under which an Energy Services Company (ESCO) is engaged to review
the energy consumption of a building or facility and to identify measures that will achieve energy savings. The
level of savings is guaranteed by the ESCO. The ESCO therefore assumes the technical risks of implementing themeasures.
A Performance Contract is a contract with an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to:a.	Review the energy consumption of a building or facility
b. Identify measures that will achieve energy savingsc. Implement the measures and guarantee the savings
There are two general models of performance contracting:a. Shared savings model: The ESCO will bear the cost of implementing the energy efficiency projects. The
ESCO then recoups the implementation cost from the company by sharing a fixed proportion of the energy
savings proceeds with the company over a specified period of time.
b. Guaranteed savings model: The implementation costs are borne by the company but the ESCO provides
a guarantee that the energy efficiency projects will achieve the promised energy savings. Any shortfall insavings will therefore be made up by the ESCO.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

13

APPENDIX B
HVAC: Upcoming Technologies
Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS)
A Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) separates outdoor make-up air-conditioning from re-circulated space air
conditioning. DOAS deals with ambient humidity directly at the source. This approach has energy saving potential
because it provides only the amount of outside air necessary to maintain the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) levels andalso by recovering the cool energy from the exhaust air to pre-cool the make-up air. The building interior load ismostly sensible cooling.
Dryer, conditioned outside air allows sensible cooling of re-circulated space air using a higher chilled watertemperature. This results in less energy being needed in the refrigeration system to achieve cooling. Also, asuperior humidity control is achievable.
Radiant panel cooling by chilled beams or chilled ceilings
Conventional variable air volume (VAV) systems for large commercial buildings use a large fraction of their energy
just to distribute energy in air. Pumping air is much less efficient than pumping water.
Coupling of space sensible cooling with DOAS is possible through the use of radiant cooling by chilled beams or
chilled ceilings. Chilled beams and chilled ceiling systems use radiant ceiling cooling panels and energy savings
are achieved from the reduction of fan energy for thermal distribution parasitic power.
DOAS reduces energy use in three ways:i.

It optimises ventilation air supply to meet IAQ requirements,ii.

allows pre-cooling of make-up air by space exhaust air heat exchange, andiii.

allows use of higher chilled water temperature for sensible cooling of interior loads, thus improving chiller
COP. 15

15

14

The Coefficient of Performance (COP), is the ratio of the rate of heat removal from the space to be cooled (kW cooling) to theenergy input rate required by the system (kW in). Industry practice usually specifies the kW power input required per ton ofrefrigeration (kW/RT, 1RT = 3.516 kW cooling), which has an inverse relationship with COP.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

Aircon System Efficiency Technology Primer: A Summary

Innovative air distribution systems
Traditional ventilation systems distribute air based on the well-mixed principle for indoor pollutant dilution. Recent
developments in air distribution systems proposed the idea of supplying the fresh air locally to the human breathingzone only to achieve high efficiency of air pollutant dilution. Some of these innovative air distribution systems
include under-floor ventilation, displacement ventilation and the previously mentioned personalised ventilation.
The high air distribution effectiveness will not only improve indoor air quality but also save air-conditioning energy
since less fresh air is needed for dilution. In the US, provisions are given in the latest ventilation standards to easethe fresh air supply rate prescriptive requirements for innovative air distribution systems. e.g. ASHRAE Standard
62-2007 incorporates the concept of “Zone Air Distribution Effectiveness”, which allows innovative air distributions
systems having zone air distribution effectiveness larger than 1.0 to lower the fresh air supply rate accordingly.
Special Air-Conditioning System Designs

District Cooling System (DCS)
A DCS distributes chilled water from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes.
The cooling (chillers) and heat rejection (cooling towers) are provided at a central plant location, thus eliminating
the need for separate systems in individual buildings. There are obvious savings in centralising the space andmaintenance requirements, but this is balanced by the need to construct and maintain the distribution network. If
there is good diversity in the cooling profile of the various buildings (i.e. the peak loads do not occur at the sametime), coupled with centralising the back-up capacity requirements, there can be substantial savings in the totalcooling equipment capacity. A DCS operator will also usually invest in a thermal storage facility16 which canenable it to further benefit from peak load shaving, or generating its cooling requirements during off-peak hours at
cheaper rates. But from an energy perspective, a DCS will have to address the additional pumping requirementsof the distribution network and the need to provide a slightly lower chilled water supply temperature to caterfor inevitable losses in the piping. In short, a site-specific techno-economic optimisation needs to be carried out
to determine if a DCS will be beneficial from the point of view of energy use, space use, cost and businessconsiderations, before a decision should be made. Singapore currently has four major DCS sites. These cater tosites with relatively different nature of operations: a high-tech industrial park with 24-hour operations, a researchhub, a business park and a commercial/financial centre. A study of the energy performance from these diverse
operations will yield very good information on the applicability of DCS to potential sites in Singapore.

16

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a concept whereby energy is stored, when available, to be used when needed. This
currently consists of a number of technologies that store thermal energy in energy storage reservoirs for later use. These
are normally adopted to balance energy demand between day time and night time. The thermal reservoir may be maintained
at a temperature above (hotter) or below (colder) that of the ambient environment. The principal application today is the
production of ice, chilled water, which is then used to cool environments during the day. High temperature salts can be
employed to store thermal energy which can be transformed to electrical energy (through the use of steam) when demand ishigh. Technologies adopting TES are described in detail in the Energy Storage Technology Primer.

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.

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APPENDIX C
Local research testbeds
Local areas of research testbedding that focus on some of these areas exist within both NTU and NUS,
namely:16•

Model based dynamic optimisation for HVAC processes (NTU),•

Ejector refrigeration cycle (NTU),•

Double refrigeration cycles (NTU),•

Liquid desiccant Dehumidification (NTU),•

Single Coil Twin Fan System. Enhanced Air Quality Pte Ltd (NUS), and•Adsorption Refrigeration Cycles (NUS).

Copyright © 2011, National Climate Change Secretariat and National Research Foundation.