Efficient Chilled Water Systems for Laboratories
Keith Cockerham, P.E., CUH2A
Laboratory design for efficient chillers generally
takes in three distinct applications: main (central) systems, process
(laboratory equipment) systems, and specialty (environmental room)
systems. The systems reviewed in this presentation will focus on typical leaving
water temperatures of 44 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus.
The presentation will focus on electric centrifugal chillers and
their typical tonnage ranges and inherent efficiency advantages
over other types of chillers (such as screw or reciprocating chillers).
Code performance requirements such as ASHRAE 90.1 requirements and
California Title 24 Energy requirements will be reviewed. Variable
frequency drive applications and benefits, as well as condenser
water heat recovery for maximum system efficiency will be discussed.
The new magnetic bearing compressors now available will also be
reviewed along with evaporative condensing chillers and absorption
chillers in the context of an efficient (central cooling) laboratory
application.
Process chiller systems will be discussed including applications
for linear accelerators, MRI equipment, laser equipment, and other
specialty pieces of laboratory equipment. Water temperature control
above the dew point will be described as a requirement of specialty
pieces of laboratory equipment. Recent lessons learned from an actual
air-cooled chiller installation will be presented.
Discussion of specialty chilled water systems will focus on the
application of cooling in a large suite of environmental rooms.
A small specialty chiller will be described for its efficiency and
compressor redundancy. A case study will be presented to illustrate
one approach to designing a specialty chilled water system for a
large suite of environmental rooms.
In this session, the audience will be given the tools to select
the appropriate chiller for a particular laboratory application,
based on efficiency, redundancy and other project criteria. In addition,
this presentation will be used for a Labs21 Best Practices Guide.
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