I would like to share with you a project that has been in operation for several years with excellent results saving energy and minimizing the cost of maintenance.
by Eng. Alfredo Sotolongo*
The most economical energy to produce is the one that is saved!
In any application where air conditioning and hot water are required either for comfort or for process, this project confirms that the use of water-condensed chillers that combine cooling and heating at the same time become the ideal application. I am referring to projects such as hospitals, hotels, industries and in many cases, office buildings.
The U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, as well as all Department of Foreign Affairs buildings are subject to certain regulations, especially as it relates to energy conservation and return on investment. It all starts because they had to replace a cooling tower that had been in operation for 12 years. Instead of replacing the tower, they decided to add a simultaneous cold and heat combination cooler, which represented energy savings, lower initial cost and reduction in the negative impact on the environment.
The mechanical engineer of the Department of Foreign Affairs already knew of the existence of the chiller because he had participated in a Multistack seminar where they presented the DHRC model chiller (Cooler Dedicated to Heat Recovery) that offers the following advantages:
a) Reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions.
b) It has a more economical method of heating water than the one that was in existence.
c) Redundancy when being modular. They can have full capacity coolers plus one in the most economical way possible.
d) More flexible and economical installation also because they are modular. The savings in operation allow the investment to be recovered in only three and a half years.
(e) Contribute to compliance with the energy policies of the United States Government.
f) The width of the cooler allows it to pass through doors 22" or more wide, which facilitates installation and allows future growth.
The climate of Chile is not severe neither in summer nor in winter, the DHRC cooler is very appropriate for use in this type of climate. On many occasions when the thermal cooling load increased, even in winter, as a result of electronic equipment, the embassy building needed to operate the original air condensing coolers simultaneously with the boilers which used Diesel fuel.
Under these conditions the cost of electric power and diesel fuel increased considerably. After removing the cooling towers, installing the DHRC coolers and inactivating the boiler when operating the DHRC cooler, it was possible to completely eliminate water consumption, reduce maintenance costs, consume less electrical energy and lower Carbon Dioxide emissions.
Results
- The results in the first 30 months of operation.
Total Savings = US$170,000.00
Fuel savings = 42,500 US Gallons.
Reduction in emissions = 420 Metric Tons of CO2.
- The expected results in the Life Cycle of operation.
Total Savings = US$1,280,000.00
Fuel economy = 320,000 US Gallons.
Reduction in emissions = 3,200 Metric Tons of CO2.
I am sure that there are many applications in which it is justified to analyze the possibility of applying simultaneous cold and heat chillers.
If you have an application where it is practical to use the DHRC model cooler, please contact us at the mail: [email protected]
* President of Protec, Inc., is certified as a professional engineer in Puerto Rico and the state of Florida; has more than 40 years of experience in the application and sale of systems and equipment for energy conservation. He is a member of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), AEE (Association of Energy Engineers), ASHRAE and was president of the Miami chapter of that association.
