Best Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Chillers -

Best Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Chillers -

 A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression, Adsorption refrigeration, or absorption refrigeration cycles. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool equipment, or another process stream (such as air or process water). As a necessary by-product, refrigeration creates waste heat that must be exhausted to the ambiance, or for greater efficiency, recovered for heating purposes.[citation needed] Vapor compression chillers may use any of a number of different types of compressors. Most common today are the hermetic scroll, semi-hermetic screw, or centrifugal compressors. The condensing side of the chiller can be either air or water-cooled. Even when water-cooled, the chiller is often cooled by an induced or forced draft cooling tower. Absorption and adsorption chillers require a heat source to function.

    Chilled water is used to cool and dehumidify air in mid- to large-size commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. Water chillers can be water-cooled, air-cooled, or evaporatively cooled. Water-cooled systems can provide efficiency and environmental impact advantages over air-cooled systems.

Below is the list of some of the best energy efficiency opportunities in Chiller systems :

    - Increase the chilled water temperature setpoint if possible.
    - Use the lowest temperature condenser water available that the chiller can handle                       (Reducing condensing temperature by 5.5°C, results in a 20 - 25% decrease in                       compressor power consumption)
    - Increase the evaporator temperature (5.5°C increase in evaporator temperature reduces          compressor power consumption by 20 - 25%)
    - Use adiabatic cooling pads for air-cooled condensers.
    - Use an indirect evaporative cooling module to reduce the load on the cooling coil and see       chiller power consumption.
    - Avoid low delta T syndrome by properly planning the distribution system.
    - Use pressure independent control vales near AHU units which are more energy efficient.
    - Clean heat exchangers when fouling indication is flagged. Generally, if the condenser              approach is more than 4 Degree C it's evident that the fouling is present in condenser              tubes (1mm scale build-up on condenser tubes can increase energy consumption by 40%)
    - Optimize the condenser water flow rate and refrigerated water flow rate. There is an               excellent opportunity in getting energy savings by reduced the flow rate technique.
    - Replace old chillers with High COP Maglev chillers.
    - Use water-cooled rather than air-cooled chiller condensers.
    - Use energy-efficient motors for continuous or near-continuous operation.
    - Specify appropriate fouling factors for condensers.
    - Do not overcharge oil.
    - Install active refrigerant agents to avoid oil fouling and get energy savings up to 7%
    - Install a control system to coordinate multiple chillers.
    - Study part-load characteristics and cycling costs to determine the most efficient mode for       operating multiple chillers.
    - Run the chillers with the lowest operating cost to serve baseload.
    - Avoid oversizing -- match the connected load.
    - Isolate off-line chillers and cooling towers.
    - Establish a chiller efficiency-maintenance program. Start with an energy audit and follow-         up, then make a chiller efficiency-maintenance program a part of your continuous energy          management program.

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