Modeling the Sequence of Operation and Time of Partial Load in Vapor Compression-Absorption Hybrid Chiller Plant in Order to Energy Saving

Abstract

The importance of energy consumption and environmental protection is one of the key issues of the past decade. Most of the energy consumption during the summer season in residential buildings, offices, hospitals, and hotels is related to their chiller plant. The highly variable cooling demand of the buildings connected to a hybrid chiller plant has to be distributed among absorption and vapor compression chillers to achieve higher energy efficiencies. Cooling load sharing strategies in chiller plants have a significant impact on energy consumption and consequently with more productivity and environmentally protected. This paper examines the behavior and pattern of energy consumption in a hybrid chiller plant that includes a combination of vapor compression and absorption chillers. In order to properly understanding the pattern of energy consumption, an existing mechanical room for a hospital in Tehran has been studied for six months and its energy consumption has been compared with the software modeling. This comparison includes the capacity of each chiller, the amount of energy consumed by vapor compression chillers and absorption chillers, and the percentage of their cooling energy allocation. The results indicate that the sequence of the chiller function and how they are placed in the circuit during a partial load is in the highest importance in viewpoint of energy saving.