Measuring and Rating the Performance
of Domestic Refrigerating Appliances
David Yashar
Deputy Chief, Energy and Environment Division
Engineering Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
U.S. Department of Commerce
Outline
• History
• Refrigerator Operation and Energy Use
• U.S. Test Method Overview
• Equipment and Facilities
• Data Manipulation
• Circumvention
• Summary
History
• Energy Regulations for domestic refrigerators began in response to
energy crisis of 1970s
– State regulations began to emerge in the late 1970s
– Federal regulations initiated in 1987
• Since initiating these programs the energy consumed has
decreased by 75% while
– Units have gotten 25% larger
– Much more functional (special compartments, ice & water, etc.)
– Better temperature and humidity control
• U.S. program is based on the test method maintained by the
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) – HRF-1
• Other methods exist including JIS C9801, AUS/NZ 4474.1, ISO
15502 → IEC 62552
– International harmonization effort
Historical Trends in Energy, Size, & Price
With permission from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project
Refrigerator Operation
• Insulated compartment maintaining
cold temperature
– Heat transferred from ambient through
insulated walls
– Evaporator removes heat from
compartment
• Intermittent operation of cycle to
maintain proper balance
– Power input through compressor
• Vapor compression cycle
𝑇𝐿
– 𝑪𝑶𝑷𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒕 =
𝑇𝐻 −𝑇𝐿
What Influences Energy
Consumption?
• Compressor, motor, and fan(s) • Operating conditions
efficiency – Ambient and Internal
• Insulation temperatures
• Size and shape/layout – Air flow in and around unit
• Free vs. forced convection • Human interaction
• Defrost – Introducing warm foodstuffs
– Type – Opening doors (introducing warm,
moist air)
– Frequency
• Control type and logic
– Mechanism
• Ancillary functions
Key Attributes of Rating Method
• Measurement results using the test method must be
repeatable and reproducible
• Results should characterize the energy consumed to
maintain operating conditions over a period of time
• Ideal measurement results would be representative of
field operation
• Minimal test burden
Test Method Objectives
• Measure energy consumption and compartment
temperatures over a series of repeatable events
– Fixed ambient temperature and air currents
– Fixed control settings
– Characterize and appropriately weight influence of regularly
occurring functions (defrost, anti-sweat, etc.)
• Internal compartment temperatures are the performance
target but user can only control set point
– Repeat test at different set point(s) and interpolate to bound
target temperatures
Considerations
• Different appliances have different functions
• The U.S. currently uses 42 product categories
– Intended compartment temperature(s)
– Configuration (single compartment, SBS, top mount, upright,
etc.)
– Defrost type (manual, auto, partial)
– Other attributes
• Allowable energy consumption based on the internal
adjusted volume of the product
– Max energy = C1*(adj. volume) + C2
– Constants vary by product type
Test Setup
• Environmental chamber
– Air temperature 32.2 ± 0.6 °C
measured 25 cm from each center
– Vertical gradient < 0.9 °C/m
– Air currents < 0.25 m/s
• Conditioned power supply
115±1V, 60 Hz
• Watt-hour meter/signal analyzer
• Data Acquisition system
• Shield from radiation
– Platform, walls, other units in
chamber
Environmental Chamber
Environmental Chamber
Environmental Chamber
Test Setup – Internal Conditions
• Weighted thermocouples in cold
compartments
– Quantity and exact location
dictated by several factors
• Unloaded compartments
• Median and warm/cold
temperature settings for each
compartment
• Steady state
– Based on stability and
repeatability of operational
cycles
Typical Steady State Data
Defrost and Recovery
Interpolation
Other Considerations
• May not be able to achieve desired temperatures with
controls
• Roll bonded evaporators remove heat via conduction
therefore cannot use air temperature
– Standard test package loading required
– Careful placement to achieve repeatable test
– Thermal ballast requires long test periods
• Inverter-driven, variable speed units will operate at part
load conditions 100% of the time
• Units with independent compartment controls
• Dual compressor systems
• Others…
Circumvention
• Critical to integrity of program
• All tests in use are bound to fixed conditions that may be
atypical for field use
– Closed door, 32.2°C, empty compartment, etc.
• Most countries that regulate have seen products that
attempt to circumvent the test procedure
– If all test conditions all met – operate in low power mode
• Recent global efforts have focused on ensuring proper
verbiage that defines and prohibits circumvention
– Now included in U.S. (AHAM), AUS/NZ, IEC, and others
Summary
• Measurement based ratings and progressively stringent
regulation has driven energy reductions since the 1970s
– Compressors, insulation, controls, etc.
• Measurements require stable environmental chambers
and some basic instrumentation
• Repeatable and reproducible test results
• Flexibility to consider different sizes, types,
configurations, features, and use
