SEER and EER

[ClydeMule]

Dear Experts,

I am looking for a good definition of SEER and EER. In general the EER is lower than the SEER because SEER is averaged over a season.

EER is based on a 95 F ambient.

That's how I understand it.

Based on this, how can mfg's say a unit has an EER of 14? (EER not SEER).

I was looking at a government publication from the DOE urging other govt. agencies to buy energy efficient air conditioners.

THe show the "Best Available" of having a SEER of 16 and an EER of 14. This was based on a 3 ton split sytem.

I looked up a Copeland ZR36K3-PFV. This is their "High Efficiency" model, 220V 1PH. AT ARI AC conditions the EER is 11.2. THis means 45F evap and 130F condensing. How can you get 14 EER when the compressor alone is 11.2? When you add the condenser fan and evap fan it will be even lower.

THe only thing I can think of is that the high efficiency systems use larger condensers so that at 95F the condensing temp is only 110-115F or so. At these condensing temps the EER (compressor only) goes to 16.2-14.8.

This is based on an R-22.

Can anyone clear up for me how they rate these things?

Thanks,

Clyde

 

[ProfSporlan]

ARI Standard 210/240-94 defines all the gorey details. The Standard can be downloaded from here:

http://ari.org/std/individual/210.240-94.pdf

 

[Acies]

You are correct ARI conditions are not the same as the manufacturer's of the compressors. If the manufacturer of the condensing unit is ARI certified you can trust the data to be accurate. ARI conditions for condensing are 95F outdoor temperatures and 80/67 db/wb temperatures entering the evaporator. The condensing unit must be matched with a specific air handler, funace, etc to provide the accurate data.