Chiller Installation and Replacement
Reasons for Chiller Replacement
There are a number of reasons why your commercial or industrial chiller might need replacement, prime among them the energy efficiency which you would gain by installing a newer model. The newest versions of chillers feature more automatic controls than those of the past, along with highly advanced compressors, which can save considerably on the amount of energy and operating costs used while the chiller is running.
Another reason is that the chiller is at the end of its useful life. Chillers usually last 20-25 years depending on the manufacturer and the maintenance of the chiller. If the chiller is pushing at the end of its useful life and needs a major repair like replacing the compressor, then that would be a good time to replace the chiller.
Another good reason for replacing an existing chiller is that you’ve determined you have a size mismatch relative to the building load. Buildings change frequently with aesthetics and different tenants wanting to do different things with the space. Base building cooling can be added to or reduced during these building modifications. This would call for you to do a load calculation and possibly replace the current chiller if it is no longer sized properly. When there is such a size mismatch, it can very often lead to poor performance and poor energy utilization.
Galgon HVAC and Your Chiller Project
Galgon HVAC understands how a chiller replacement or installation affects the facility and the company’s budget. Chillers last 20-25 years and is a huge investment, so it is important to pick the right company and the right strategic plan for your chiller purchase.
- Customizable: Our team of sales executives and project managers will customize the placement, chiller selection, pump/piping configuration, and controls of your chilled water system in accordance with space, sound, and maintenance requirements.
Steps for Chiller Selection
- Consult with a mechanical contractor to do a thorough economic and technical analysis.
- To size a replacement chiller correctly for peak cooling load, perform a new heat gain/loss calculation.
- Evaluate your building’s cooling load profile. If the building spends most of its time at partial load, then prioritize energy consumption (kW/ton) at part loads. If the building operates 24/7/365 at comparatively high loads, then focus on efficiency at peak capacity.
- Consider condenser water supply temperature during design. Magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers need to be optimized for water temperature while VSS compressors are a universal design.
- Evaluate both your load and demand charges. If your building’s demand charges are high, thermal storage or load shifting may be cost-effective additions for a new chiller plant.
