In this study, the initial operation characteristics of a multi-type cooling system with three indoor units using an inverter compressor were investigated experimentally using a calorimeter. The operating characteristics of the cooling system were confirmed under the full load condition of simultaneous operation of three rooms and the partial load condition of individual operation of two or one room under the standard cooling conditions. The capacities of A, B and C are 50, 20, and 30% of the total capacity, respectively. The 3 room combination has 100% capacity, the 2 room combination has 50, 70 and 80% capacity, and the 1 room has 20, 30, and 50% capacity. The compressor condensing and evaporating pressures, the electronic expansion valve openings of indoor units A, B, and C, and the compressor operating frequencies were measured for 10 minutes after the cooling system was started. During the initial operation, the changes in the operating time and opening of the electronic expansion valve varied depending on the indoor unit combination and the operating load, and the relationship between the compressor pressure and the operating frequency was found.

The cooling operating characteristics of the 3 room air conditioner are experimentally investigated for the number of the indoor units (A, B, C) and the operating conditions (standard, overload) under the cooling operation. The cooling capacity and COP were calculated using a multi-type calorimeter. Also, EEV opening, compressor frequency, and superheat degree were obtained when the compressor started. From the experimental results, we can see that the performance and operation characteristics of the air conditioner depend on the indoor unit operation method. In case of simultaneous and single operation, the cooling overload performance was measured lower than the standard condition. Also, in the overload operation, the power consumption of the compressor was greatly increased and the COP was also decreased.