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McQuay
September 2000
APPLICATIONS B U L L E T I N
PRACTICAL APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR THE MCQUAY SALES FORCE Welcome to our first issue of Applications Bulletin practical application information for the McQuay sales force. This is a quarterly publication that will contain information and ideas on how to use McQuay products, as well as how other manufacturers are applying their products. It is intended for internal use by McQuay Sales Representatives and Distributors. The following are some other application tools and their use that are also available from McQuay: Sales and Engineering Data Sheets (SEDs) are intended for internal use by McQuay Sales Representatives. They are issued by product managers and cover new material issued between catalog reprints, competitive analyses and special information not necessarily found in the general catalogs. SEDs are published as required. Engineering System Solutions is a quarterly publication intended for external distribution by Sales Representatives to consulting engineers. It provides a venue for new products and applications. If there is a topic you would like to see covered or something that should be shared with the rest of the sales force, please let me know. Hugh Crowther P.E. Manager of Applications McQuay International hugh.crowther@mcquay.com
Figure 1
For HFC-134a, the condenser pressure at 97F is 118.3 psig. The evaporator pressure at 42F is 36.6 psig. The compressor must provide a lift of 81.7 psig. Imagine a ball on the end of a string swung around your head, the faster the ball spins, the further it will go when released. The same is true for the centrifugal compressor. The faster the tip speed, the more lift it will generate. If the tip speed is not sufficient to meet the lift requirements, the chiller will stall or surge.
be a reduction in compressor lift for the VFD to operate. This is not a McQuay issue, this is physics. If the lift is not reduced, the Microtech unit controller will only use the inlet guide vanes and the VFD will become a very expensive starter.
many applications where the condenser water temperature will drop off as the chiller load drops. However there also applications (such as process applications) where the load profile is independent of condenser water temperature.
Figure 2
90 CEWT (F) 80 70 60 50
50 10
ARI 550-92 ARI 550/590-98
Lift can be lowered either by raising the supply water temperature or lowering the condenser water temperature. The latter is more common. In short, condenser water relief must be present to take advantage of the VFD. Chillers that operate during the winter in temperate climates are excellent candidates for VFDs because of winter hours with lower condenser water temperature. Chillers that operate at full load a majority of the time or applications in climates that do not have a wide range in wetbulb temperature, are a poor choice for VFDs.
30
70
90
Figure 2 shows both the old curve and the new 1998 curve. The new curve is much more favorable for VFD chillers. The McQuay SelectTOOLs Chiller program automatically takes into account condenser water relief as do other manufacturers. Note, when a rating is performed, the program automatically calculates the reduced condenser water temperature. The condenser water temperature can be overridden if more accurate information on condenser water is available. The second issue is Non-Standard Part Load Value (NPLV). This is a weighted average of how a chiller performs from 25% to 100%. It is based on condenser water relief and is given in kW/ton format. Here is the weighting; 100% 75% 50% 25% Load Load Load Load 1% 42% 45% 12%
Although the NPLV load profile may not match the load profile of your project, it does allow an "apples to apples" comparison of equipment since all manufacturers use it per ARI Standard 550/590-98. These weightings are favorable for VFD chillers. For more information, see the McQuay SED 20002 on ARI Standard 550/590-98.
The VFD losses generate some heat. To dissipate this heat the VFD must be cooled. Up to 240 amps, they are air cooled. Above 240 amps, they are water cooled.
Unfortunately NPLV alone can lead to misapplications. If the chiller is part of a large chiller plant and is base loaded, then a VFD is inappropriate. Process applications can go either way. An on/off application is not appropriate while a varying load with winter hours can be an excellent candidate. The only way to properly evaluate the application is to know how the chiller is going to be used. (Refer to the VFD application chart on the next page for key questions when evaluating an application for VFDs.)
The McQuay Distinction Series Dual Compressor Centrifugal Chiller, 450 tons with VFDs has an NPLV of 0.360 Kw/ton.
Here are key questions that need to be answered to evaluate application for VFDs
DISCUSSION
The building type will tell you a lot about the application and the economic viability of VFDs To pay for the VFD, there has to be significant operating time at part load The plant design indicates how the chiller is used and what the load profile is. For example, a VFD is only required on the lead chiller in a series arrangement. The lag chiller can be base loaded. VFDs need to operate at part-load. Watch for winter operation. If there are economizers, the chillers will be off at 55F ambient. Process applications need to be studied very carefully. NPLV is not applicable. This will depend on where the condenser water comes from and how it is controlled. A cooling tower with a controller set at 85F is not appropriate. Can the chilled water temperature be raised? Is it variable flow?
ANSWER
Office Buildings Process/Industrial Healthcare Large run hours at partload Minimal hours at partload The plant design allows for significant run hours at part load. The plant design base loads the chiller or limits run hours.
VFD?
What is the chiller operating schedule? What is the chiller plant design? (single, series, parallel or primary/secondary)
Is it a process application?
Chiller load varies and runs year round Chiller is based loaded
There is another means of lift reduction. No other means. Life cycle analysis is the method of evaluation. First cost means of evaluation.
Will the customer put value in life cycle analysis rather than first cost?
VFD chillers will not be the lowest first cost solution. The owner must be willing to invest now for future benefits. VFD power supply options are limited. A transformer may negate the value of the VFD.
VFD Dont forget the dual solution. They Good part load performance required. Dual offer nearly the same performance Redundancy and part load at high lift plus the redundancy of a dual. They required. are less sensitive to lift issues. A dual Both required. Dual w/ VFDs with VFDs is the best of both worlds. This table will only start the process of evaluating the opportunity. Once the application is understood, the right McQuay solution will become clear.
For comments or suggestions, please call or write: Hugh Crowther, Editor, or Ben Schlinsog, Manager of Corporate Communications McQuay International 13600 Industrial Park Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55441 Phone: (763) 553-5330 E-mail: hugh.crowther@mcquay.com, ben.schlinsog@mcquay.com