VFD CHILLERS EFICIENCY

SAK9 (Mechanical) (OP)

Guys,

Has anyone had experience with variable speed drive centrifugal chillers? Do they have any significant advantages over no
quark (Mechanical)
We had 500TR York millenium centrifugal chiller with VFD control(and vane control as well). We had two chillers without V
didn't WORK .

At our load conditions and ambient conditions, the VFD chiller was WORKING perfectly. I observed 5-10% savings.

Believe it or not : Goldbach's conjecture says any even number can be written as a sum of two prime numbers. Postulated
VSSriram (Mechanical)
The extent of savings would depend on the load pattern - i.e. how much of part load requirement exists and the range of c
bulb temperature - i.e. the savings become more when the equipments operate more and more at part loads due to reduc
then the savings would be due to reduction in ambient wet bulb temperature only.

A typical PAY back period would be around 2 to 3 years.

Rob1972 (Mechanical)
Another thing to consider is the number of chillers in your plant. If you have a single chiller APPLICATION , you have a lo
indicated by VSSriram) then the variable speed chiller might be appropriate. However, if you have more then one chiller, t
payback period. A lot depends on the system design and site specific conditions so the best approach is to do an analysis.
VSSriram (Mechanical)
Absolutely right Rob1972. Carrier has a very nice program, which can help you out on selecting the right type of system d
Optimizer". It's an inhouse software program and they don't give it outside. The more the accurate your input is, the mor
simonho (Mechanical)
The benefit of VSD centrifugal chillers will largely depend on its utilization range. If your APPLICATION does have varying
VSD chillers are efficient at part load with low ambient temperatures (cool condenser water temperatures). If you don't get
great efficiencies the chiller manufacturers tell you.

In multiple chiller plants, the chillers are typically fully loaded so there's little advantage for VSDs. Even if you do get low lo
might have an airside economy cycle which limits your chiller operation anyway. No matter how efficient your chillers can

It all boils down to the return on your investment: would you pay that extra for a chiller to have a VSD or would you use th
with VSD with 0.6 kW/ton or a constant speed chiller with 0.5 kW/ton if they were priced the same?

The answer lies in comprehensive analysis/simulation programs, one like VSSriram mentioned. Trane also has one called th
psighi (Electrical)
The vfd chillers were considered because of load diversity from day to night (24-hour operation). If you compare the IPLV
curves go much lower at partial loads and stays lower down to 20% capacity.

Caution: I not only have two 750 Ton Carrier Centrifugals with vfd, but also variable primary pumping. Details need to be
sure you optimize your cooling towers for low ecwt, or potentially, the chiller will self protect and act like a non-vfd chiller a
(>750T). I haven't seen the changes on the Trane or York...just precautions in operation.