Commercial sector gas cooling technology frontier and market share analysis

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6797193

Hamblin, D M ^[1]; Pine, G D ^[2]; Maddigan, R ^[3]; MacDonald, J M; McLain, H A ^[4]; Rimpo, J Y ^[5]

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1. Hamblin (Dan) and Associates, Inc., Conway, AR (USA)
2. Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
3. Science Applications International Corp., Oak Ridge, TN (USA)
4. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
5. Rimpo and Associates, Orangevale, CA (USA)

The cooling profile for commercial buildings shapes the afternoon, summer peak for many electric utilities. Their high generating costs to meet expanding commercial sector and coincident loads are reflected in increasingly complex rate structures attempting to discriminate among, and value competing peak demands. Alternative fuels do not bear the generation-cost penalties embedded in these rates. As a result, cooling technologies higher in first cost than are competing electric options can be least in levelized or life-cycle cost, and socially preferred in terms of total efficiency of energy conversion and use. Prudent commercial cooling R D planning decisions require market assessment methods which realistically incorporate these factors. Far-sighted planning also looks at technology with initially estimated high first costs. Before rejecting these blueprints, the R D planner would like to know what it would take to achieve economically viable market shares. Then, he or she can assess whether these operating parameter, cost, and/or performance goals are attainable. This paper describes a method, developed for the Gas Research Institute of the United States, that can assist planning for commercial sector natural gas cooling systems R D. These systems are higher in first cost than conventional electric chillers. Yet, engine-driven chiller designs exist which are currently competitive in US markets typified by high electricity or demand changes. 10 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE; GRI
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6797193
• Report Number(s): CONF-901097-1; ON: DE90017022
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030600 -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
320303 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
AIR CONDITIONING
BUILDINGS
CAPITAL
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COOLING SYSTEMS
COST
DIAGRAMS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLOWSHEETS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
LOAD MANAGEMENT
M CODES
MAINTENANCE
MANAGEMENT
MARKETING
NATURAL GAS
PEAK LOAD
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
PRICES
PROBABILITY
PUBLIC UTILITIES
SIMULATION
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT