Maximizing peak cooling capacity in district cooling distribution systems

Conference · Mon Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:459047

Winters, P J ^[1]; Hansen, D W ^[2]; Andrepont, J S ^[3]

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1. CBI Walker, Inc., Plainfield, IL (United States)
2. CBI Technical Services Company, Plainfield, IL (United States)
3. Trigen Energy Corp., Chicago, IL (United States)

Cooling capacity in District Cooling distribution systems is identified as a major factor affecting the capital and operating costs of District Cooling systems. Increasing peak cooling capacity for fixed pipeline sizes has a significant potential benefit for the economics of District Cooling. The various methods (some commercially available, and others which are developmental) for achieving increased peak delivery capacity in a District Cooling distribution system are outlined and briefly reviewed. They include: (1) lowering Chilled Water Supply (CHWS) temperatures and/or raising Chilled Water Return (CHWR) temperatures, (2) the use of Friction Reducing Additives (FRAs), (3) the use of pumpable phase-change materials (e.g. ice-water slurries or wax-water slurries), (4) the use of distributed (satellite) chiller plants, (5) the use of distributed Thermal Energy Storage (TES) units, and (6) the use of low temperature brines (such as water-glycols or proprietary fluids). Case studies are presented to illustrate and quantify the benefits for several of the currently commercial options, including higher CHW temperature differentials, distributed TES, and the use of low temperature brine in the distribution system.

• OSTI ID: 459047
• Report Number(s): CONF-961082--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CAPACITY
DISTRICT COOLING
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
OPTIMIZATION
WATER SUPPLY