Proxy-Calibration Approach for Transient Simulation of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems in Energy Performance Assessment of an Existing Building

This study investigates a Proxy-Calibration method for modeling Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems in TRNSYS, addressing the absence of a dedicated simulation component. The approach approximates part-load behavior through indoor-unit combination mapping, utilizing empirical data from a public office building in Seoul. Simulation results were compared with one year of monitored data. While indoor temperature trends showed moderate agreement (R² = 0.68), electricity consumption diverged significantly from actual measurements. The coefficient of variation in the root mean square error (CVRMSE) ranged from 95% to 118% for the boiler and 153% to 590% for the VRF system, indicating a substantial discrepancy well beyond standard calibration thresholds. These findings underscore the limitations of using static performance maps without explicit control logic. Consequently, this study defines the proposed method as an exploratory investigation; while it establishes a procedural framework for approximating VRF operation, rigorous energy prediction requires further refinement through empirical curve fitting and detailed control representation.