How To Increase Efficiency In Air Conditioner In Three Simple Steps and Save Energy In Air Conditioner

                                                                                                                                                                              This article is explaining how to increase efficiency in air conditioner in three simple steps and save energy in air conditioner.

   Maximum efficiency is another name for energy saving. Therefore if any one can managed to run the air conditioning system in an efficient manner ultimately he can save the energy cost. 

                Contrary to popular belief, running the chiller ( component of the air conditioner ) at full load design and achieving the design Kw/ton does not necessarily mean the chiller is running at maximum efficiency. Maximum chiller efficiency is producing the greatest tonnage at the lowest kilowatt usage.

Maximum efficiency occurs with most chillers running at approximately 70-75 percent load and the lowest Entering Condenser Water Temperature (ECWT), based on design. Knowing a chiller’s efficiency and the effects of load and ECWT will help the facility determine the most efficient chiller configurations, saving the maximum on energy costs.

Similarly there are several steps or approaches organization can implement in order to save energy cost or maximize the efficiency of most of the components of air conditioning system like Chiller, Condenser Water pumps, Cooling Tower fans, Primary Chilled Water pumps, Secondary Chilled Water pumps, AHUs and FCUs.

According to the task and schematic drawing given we are not supposed to identify the approaches shown below.

-        Use biocide and scale/corrosion protection

-        Clean the cooling tower often

-        Consider passivating chemicals

-        Curb non-condensable gasses

-        Maintain refrigerant levels

-        Schedule preventive maintenance

-        Keep tubes clean

-        Treat condenser water

-        Reduce entering water temperature

-        Analyze compressor oil

-        Check wiring

 

 

What are those Three simple steps to increase efficiency and save energy in air conditioner?

 

In order to initiate the project there are some important points given in the brief. Important points are,

-        Air conditioning system has water cooled chillers.

-        Centrifugal type of compressor, CHW pumps & COW pumps are used.

-        Chilled water is distributed using a primary circuit arrangement.

-        All the AHUs and FCUs are fitted with 2 way motorized valves.

-        CHW pumps, COW pumps and Cooling Towers are not dedicated to each chiller.

-        Chiller can support variable CHW flow up to 70% of design flow rate.

-        Bypass valve fitted with a differential pressure sensor.  

Generally it can increase the efficiency of the air conditioning system by,

1. Keeping temperature constantly and varying the flow rate.
2. Varying the temperature and keeping the flow rate constantly.

Since here, it used centrifugal type of compressor, CHW pumps & COW pumps, it’s very difficult to vary the temperature and keep the flow rate constantly according to the load variation. If it’s a rotary type then we can go for this option. While it’s not the case it is better to go for 1^st option, which is keeping temperature constantly and varying the flow rate.

With the above three simple steps we can identify 3 energy saving methods for air conditioning system.

They are as follows;

1. Maximizing the efficiency of the chilled & Condenser water pumps using VSDs.
2. Maximizing the efficiency of the AHU unit using VAVs and VSDs.
3. Maximizing the efficiency of the Cooling Tower using VSDs.

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