Free Cooling is a fast and effective, economic method of using low external air temperatures. It can be used to assist in cooling water for industrial temperature control applications or in HVAC systems.<\/p>\n
A chiller’s traditional design uses integral compressor technology to generate the cooling required for process and HVAC applications.<\/p>\n
The use of Free Cooling in an industrial temperature control application differs from an environmental cooling solution as fresh ambient air cannot be drawn straight into the cooling circuit. Therefore, to harness the benefits of the low ambient temperatures, a Free Cooling coil needs to be introduced into the circuit.<\/p>\n
A Free Cooling coil is installed in series with the chiller system\u2019s evaporator so in lower ambient conditions, partial or 100%, Free Cooling can be achieved. This method of operation,\u00a0makes the most of\u00a0natural low ambient temperatures\u00a0and in doing so benefits from a reduction in energy costs of up to 80%.<\/p>\n
As the ambient air temperature drops at least a degree below the process return water temperature, the benefits of Free Cooling start and the external ambient temperature can begin to cool a process in place of a chiller.<\/p>\n
As the ambient temperature drops 3\u00b0C to 5\u00b0C below the required process supply water temperature, total Free Cooling can be achieved, taking over\u00a0fully from\u00a0the chiller’s compressors and consequently providing an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective approach to process and HVAC cooling.<\/p>\n
High Ambient<\/strong><\/p>\n When the process return water temperature required is equal to or higher than the ambient air temperature Free Cooling is not suitable. The system\u2019s three-way valve will continue to direct the fluid flow through the chiller\u2019s compressors to be cooled to the required set point temperature.<\/p>\n