New Air Conditioning Chiller Increases Efficiency
A new air-cooled air conditioning chiller was recently installed on the SFCC Highlands Campus to provide more efficiency for the current chilled water air conditioning system, resulting in cost savings and redundancy of equipment. The new unit is a high efficiency unit with multi-stage compressors and is located adjacent to the current chiller building just behind the Learning Resources Center.
“The chilled water system currently in place was originally designed to minimize the cost of air conditioning our facilities, said Glenn Little, vice president for administrative services. “A large chiller runs throughout the late evening, night, and early morning hours when the cost per kilowatt hour (kwh) is at off-peak rates. This chiller makes an icy mixture which is then stored in large insulated tanks located in the chiller facility storage yard. During peak demand hours when kwh costs are highest, the ice is melted and used to cool water which is then circulated throughout campus buildings for air conditioning purposes. A smaller chiller has historically been operated to cool buildings during the hours when the ice is being replenished and when demand is relatively low, but enrollment growth and increased use of facilities have created a need for greater cooling capacity during these non-peak times, particularly in the morning hours. The new chiller will supplement the smaller chiller, ensuring that the larger chiller has the time required to make the icy mixture needed during higher kwh rate hours.”
Installation work will continue through the coming weeks, followed by a wall which will be constructed to enclose the unit. The entire project is expected to be completed in April.
