Hybrid Cooling Towers in a Free‐Cooling Application: Modeling and Field Measurement Verification. Issue 9 (25th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Puls, Philipp; Lange, Christopher; Öchsner, Richard
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering & technology. Volume 42:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 1871
• Page End: 1878
• Publication Date: 2019-06-25
• Subjects: Cooling systems -- Energy efficiency -- Free cooling -- Hybrid cooling towers -- Simulations; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical processes -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201800712
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0930-7516

Abstract

Abstract: The energy‐saving potential of free cooling in chilled‐water systems was investigated. As a preliminary study, simulation was used to quantify the performance of free cooling in a given reference system. To reduce the computational effort for the simulation of long time periods, simplified models for dry and evaporative cooling were developed. The simulation results indicate that free cooling reduces the electric energy demand for cold supply almost by half. In a follow‐up investigation, free cooling was implemented in the reference system. The actual energy savings showed good agreement with the simulation forecasts and confirmed the feasibility of the concept. Abstract : Free cooling can reduce energy costs for chillers in facilities with cooling demand. The feasibility of free cooling was investigated for a reference chilled‐water supply system, which was simulated by a simple model that is suitable for long‐term simulations. Experimental integration of free cooling in the reference system led to significant energy savings in good agreement with the simulations.