Natural Gas Chillers
American DG Energy offers several natural gas engine driven chiller system options in the size range from 50 to 1,200 tons. Unlike conventional chiller systems, which use an electric motor to power a compressor driven chiller, a natural gas engine driven chiller uses an internal combustion engine to power a similar compressor in a refrigeration loop. This simple change in how the chiller is powered creates high efficiency along with heat recovery opportunities for the natural gas engine driven chiller. Plus, it reduces demand on the grid which can help alleviate high summer electric costs, seasonal blackouts and electricity shortages, which are primarily caused by electric chillers.
While absorption systems also use natural gas, their efficiency and performance have been disappointing relative to engine driven systems. A compressor driven chiller is a very efficient system for cooling a building. Using a natural gas engine to drive the compressor makes it even more efficient – 2.5 times more efficient than the most efficient absorption chiller. As a result, a natural gas engine driven chiller cooling system provides greater comfort and savings.
Benefits of Engine Driven Chillers
There are several benefits to implementing natural gas engine driven chillers versus absorption chillers or electric chillers, including efficiency, system footprint and the use of natural gas fuel.
The primary benefit of a natural gas engine driven chiller is its high efficiency. As an example, a 200 ton system has a COP of 2.6, which is significantly more efficient than most absorption and electric based chillers on the market. And, certainly is much more efficient than your current system.
A natural gas engine driven chiller provides superior efficiency due to its the heat recovery capability. The heat from the engine which powers the compressor can be captured through a heat recovery system and then utilized within the building for various applications. The recovered heat can be used to heat domestic hot water, laundry hot water or to provide heat for swimming pools and spas.
Taking advantage of the heat recovery capability of a natural gas engine driven chiller provides significant fuel efficiency resulting in lower energy costs, reduced operating costs and reduced carbon emissions. Additional benefits, if converting from an electric chiller, include avoidance of on-peak electric demand charges and time of day rates.
Another benefit of a natural gas engine driven chiller is its compact size. An engine driven chiller is smaller than your absorption system and has the same footprint as your electric chiller. Replacing your existing system won’t require additional square footage.
In addition, a natural gas engine driven chiller can continue to operate during blackouts and brownouts throughout an emergency. Loss of power will not prevent the chiller from running. Though you still require some electricity to run pumps and fans, the amount of back-up power required is dramatically less than with other cooling systems.
Finally, our natural gas engine driven chiller systems can also be modified to supply ice for rinks or process applications.
Chiller System Installation
Chiller system installation costs are not insignificant. Once the system is in place, the property owner is responsible for its operation and maintenance, requiring either internal man-hours or a third party service contract. For businesses with limited budgets and competing capital improvement projects, obtaining the cash or financing for a turnkey installation of a chiller system can be difficult. In most cases an On-Site Utility is the best option.