Differences Between Hydraulic and Machine Room Less (MRL) Elevator Systems.

摘要

Over the last 70 years, most elevator installations have been hydraulic elevator systems. However, there has been a lack of research comparing hydraulic and machine room less (MRL) elevators and the factors that influence elevator efficiency. As a result, elevator purchasers lack understanding about elevator performance, resulting in wasted investments, inefficient energy use, and excessive life-cycle costs. The purpose of this study was to determine if hydraulic elevators are as efficient as MRL elevators and to identify which factors influence three measures of overall efficiency: performance, energy consumption, and life cycle cost. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of multiple factors (including elevator type) on each of 3 response variables. Data were obtained from industry-accepted models of elevator performance. The findings indicated that significant differences exist between hydraulic and MRL elevators. In relation to performance and energy consumption, the analysis provided strong results in favor of MRL elevators, whereas for life cycle cost, the analysis provided strong results in favor of hydraulic elevators. In addition, 3 factors were significant influences and predictors of all 3 response variables (elevator model, elevator speed, and floors traveled), while others were not significant for all 3 variables. The findings may lead to positive social change by enabling building operators to choose elevator systems that reduce a building's carbon footprint, eliminate the potential for soil contaminants, and reduce energy consumption associated with elevators. Further, this research may assist purchasers in making tradeoffs among competing factors to make wise selections and to cope with the rising cost of building construction and maintenance.