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Our GREENandSAVE Staff is always on the lookout for cost-effective energy savings to help business in Montana become more sustainable. The Energy Intelligence Center has developed some excellent Chiller Plant Energy Savings ranging from 15% to 40% via their OptikW algorithmic software platform. The software solutions do not require new equipment and the compensation for the services is paved on the savings generated. This is a win/win for businesses and the environment.
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Optimization are core strengths of the Energy Intelligence Center. As sensor and control technology continues to improve, their team has demonstrated proven results using their advanced logic that leverages ambient conditions like temperature, humidity, and dew point to optimize HVAC systems.
If you would like us to profile your company's technology, please Contact Us so that we can review your offering.
For an example of other sustainability solutions in Montana, see: https://www.mtefficiency.org/energy-efficient-hvac-toolkit/
"The aims of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems include everything from maintaining comfortable temperature and humidity levels, to supplying adequate fresh air and removing possible pollutants from the air, all while creating minimal inconvenience for occupants. With this wide range of tasks, it’s easy to understand how as much as 40% of a building’s energy use can go toward operating an HVAC system (USDOE). Therefore, working to establish and maintain an efficient HVAC system within your building can significantly reduce energy needs. Upgrading to efficient equipment, properly maintaining established equipment, and installing control devices can all contribute to HVAC energy savings."
Cooling
For a central plant system typical in commercial buildings, chillers and cooling towers provide a building’s cooling needs. A central plant system uses a variety of pumps, pipes, control valves, and ductwork to distribute heat or cooling throughout the building. A chiller uses electricity to remove heat from the chilled water loop, and subsequently the building. This removed heat is then released to the outside world via a cooling tower. A water cooled chiller is typically more efficient than an air cooled chiller due to added cooling effects from evaporation. However an air-cooled chiller does not require a cooling tower.
The diagram at the right illustrates the basic mechanics of a chiller unit. The chiller removes heat from a liquid by employing vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration.
In a vapor-compression cycle, a refrigerant in vapor form is pressurized by a compressor, which in turn heats the refrigerant. This vapor then flows through condenser coils. The hot refrigerant gives off heat to the outside air, which cools down the vapor into a liquid form. However, it is still at high pressure. The liquid refrigerant then travels through an expansion valve which converts some of the liquid back into a vapor by lowering the pressure. Finally, the vapor/liquid refrigerant passes through an evaporator. The refrigerant picks up heat from inside the space, which turns any remaining liquid into a vapor.
