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Abstract:
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During the summer of 1984, a test was performed
to evaluate a local air conditioning duty cycling
device as a tool to reduce TUEC's system summer peak
demand. In addition to the local duty cycling
device, a direct load control device using a power
line carrier system was operated, and the results
of the two systems were compared. Thirty single
family homes in Garland and Richardson were included
in the test. The homes' air conditioning compressors
were controlled 4 days per week during the test
period, using the local and direct control systems
on alternate days. Both systems were programmed
to cycle the compressor off 30% of the time when
operating. The days when no control was performed
were used as a base for comparison to the days when
the air conditioners were controlled.
The local control device and the direct control
device were both found to reduce demand of the compressor
by about 0.65 kW at 100°F ambient temperature.
Also, the kW reduction achieved was found to
increase with higher ambient temperatures. It was
also shown that for more oversized units, a higher
ambient temperature must be reached in order to
achieve the same demand reduction as a properly
sized unit. Both control devices were found to
cause a minimum amount of discomfort to customers
although they raised the temperature in the homes
about 2°F during the hottest part of the day. The
control did, however, make existing problems with
air conditioners, such as improper maintenance and
extreme undersizing, more noticeable to the customer,
causing them to blame the controls for their discomfort.
Finally, the customers were found to look
more favorably upon the company as a result of
participating in the test project. |
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