Energy Consumption Reduction of a Chiller Plant by Adding Evaporative Pads to Decrease Condensation Temperature

Francisco J. Rey Martínez, Julio F. San José Alonso, Eloy Velasco Gómez, Ana Tejero González, Paula M Esquivias and Javier M. Rey Hernández
Additional contact information
Francisco J. Rey Martínez: Department of Energy and Fluid mechanics, School of Engineering (EII), University of Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce No. 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Julio F. San José Alonso: Department of Energy and Fluid mechanics, School of Engineering (EII), University of Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce No. 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Eloy Velasco Gómez: Department of Energy and Fluid mechanics, School of Engineering (EII), University of Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce No. 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Ana Tejero González: Department of Energy and Fluid mechanics, School of Engineering (EII), University of Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce No. 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Paula M Esquivias: Department of Energy and Fluid mechanics, School of Engineering (EII), University of Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce No. 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Javier M. Rey Hernández: Higher Polytechnic School, European University Miguel de Cervantes (UEMC), Padre Julio Chevalier, 47012 Valladolid, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: The high energy consumption of cooling systems justifies the need for strategies to increase the efficiency of the facilities, in order to reduce the related CO 2 emissions. This study aims to improve the performance and reduce the energy consumption of an 8.6 MW air cooled chiller. This installed capacity is biased due to the screw compressors, of 2.98 Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) at full load (characteristics provided by the manufacturer). The chiller unit has been modified by placing evaporating cooling pads before the condensing coils. The chiller has been monitored for three months, recording over 544,322 measurements (5 min-step data), with and without the evaporative cooling pads, to assess the performance. Data comparison has been done by selecting two days (with and without evaporative panels) with the same health care load and temperatures. Implementing the proposed strategy yields an improvement in the European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ESEER) from 3.69 to 4.83, while the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) decreases about 1000 tCO 2 . Energy savings of up to 32.6 MWh result into a payback period lower than 2 years.

Keywords: air cooled chiller; evaporative cooling pad; adiabatic condenser; equivalent carbon dioxide emissions; energy savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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