A chiller is an energy-saving machine that achieves cooling effects through vapor compression or absorption cycles. The full name of the chiller is the cooling water circulation machine. Due to its wide application in various industries, it has countless alternative names depending on the industry. Our company mainly produces air-cooled chillers, water-cooled chillers, screw chillers and industrial chillers for filling lines.
A technical and economic comparison of the two types of units
1. Considering that large refrigeration units have a relatively large number of air-cooled condensers, it is usually difficult to arrange them. On the other hand, small water-cooled refrigeration units are also not conducive to use. Therefore, a comparison is made between medium-easy air-cooled units and water-cooled refrigeration units with the same cooling capacity.
1.2 Initial investment of the unit
1.2.1 The initial investment of the unit includes equipment cost, installation cost and power capacity increase cost;
Now, a certain model of water-cooled refrigeration unit is compared with an air-cooled refrigeration unit that has the same main unit and evaporator.
The annual operating time of the compressor is 1,000 to 3,000 hours, and the corresponding annual operating time of the cooling tower and the water pump is 1,400 to 4,200 hours.
1.3.1 Operating costs of air-cooled refrigeration units
The annual electricity cost of an air-cooled refrigeration unit =(power consumption of the compressor + power consumption of the fan)× operating time/year × electricity price
1.3.2 Operating costs of water-cooled refrigeration units
1.3.2.1 Annual electricity consumption cost of water-cooled refrigeration units =(power consumption of compressors + power consumption of cooling tower fans + power consumption of cooling water pumps)× operating time/year × electricity price
1.3.2.2 The annual water fee for water-cooled refrigeration units =(Total circulating water × number of water changes + make-up water volume × total circulating water volume × operating time/year)× water price
Ii. Conclusion
2.1 The amount of make-up water for cooling water in water-cooled units is an important factor affecting their costs. Strengthening maintenance management and reducing water consumption are important aspects for lowering the cost of water-cooled units.
2.2 The initial investment of air-cooled refrigeration units is relatively high, and the power consumption per unit of cooling capacity is also slightly higher than that of water-cooled units. However, the annual comprehensive cost of air-cooled units is basically the same as that of water-cooled units and slightly lower. The results of technical and economic analysis show that it is reasonable to configure air-cooled condensers for medium and small-sized water chillers.
2.3 The longer the annual operating time of the chiller, the more beneficial it is for the air-cooled unit. Compared with the water-cooled unit, the initial payback period of the air-cooled unit is shorter. Therefore, in southern regions, air-cooled chiller units are more suitable for air conditioning. From the perspective of cooling conditions, the wet-bulb temperature in southern regions is high, which is also unfavorable for water-cooled units.
