In partnership with Energy Research and Testing Laboratory Services of the Department of Energy (DOE-ERTLS) and the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change or C4 Project will support these Philippine government agencies in developing several prototype units of small capacity window-type air conditioners which will utilize R290 as refrigerant.
The aim of the research and development (R&D) activity is to create an optimal design for the Philippines that can be used by air conditioning manufacturers that will ensure the lowest possible greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in terms of direct emissions from refrigerants and indirect emissions from the energy consumption of the appliance.
The methodology builds on the prior studies conducted in China and India which measured the significant performance improvements in the use of R290 and other natural refrigerants as cooling fluids for room air conditioners. With support from the Multilateral Fund (MLF) of the Montreal Protocol as implemented by the global cooling program of the Deutsche Gessellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Proklima, China and India have become major R290 AC manufacturers with R&D capabilities for climate-friendly air conditioners.
The R&D activity will utilize the DOE-ERTLS Balance Ambient Type test chamber to measure the energy performance of the prototype units with verification tests to be conducted in Air Enthalpy Test Chambers that are all present in the Philippines. The use of two (2) types of test chambers increase the accuracy and precision of performance measurements compared to prior studies in India and China.
