Industrial process cooling systems are typically used for production processes such as cooling plastics and metals and are present in many industrial sectors including chemicals, fabricated metal products, plastics, glass, data centers, and electronics. Most process cooling systems use industrial chillers that remove heat from water or glycol to produce chilled water.
While energy efficiency opportunities for process cooling/chillers exist at both the component and system level, a system-level approach that takes into account the interaction of individual components and how they are configured within the system is the most effective way to generate impactful energy savings.
Top Five Energy Efficiency Measures for Process Cooling Systems
- Design hydronic loops to operate chillers near design temperature differential
- Use variable speed control on compressors with an appropriate condenser water reset
- Design and Control Cooling Tower System for Low Condenser Temperatures
- Reset chilled water supply temperature setpoints based on process load
- Reset condensing water entering temperature setpoints based on ambient wet bulb temperature
Learn more with the PROCESS COOLING INFO CARD, explore additional resources specific to Better Plants partners, and connect with the process cooling-subject matter expert below.
Subject Matter Expert - Wei Guo
Dr. Wei Guo was a research assistant at the University of Arkansas from Jan 2006 to Feb 2011 and received his doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on HVAC systems, in May 2011. While pursuing his Ph.D. degree, Wei spent every summer at the Arkansas Industrial Assessment Center working on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Arkansas State-funded manufacturing plant energy assessment projects. After graduation, Wei worked as an Energy Engineer at a building energy consulting firm for about 5 years. Wei's primary area of expertise is manufacturing plants and healthcare facilities energy conservation. He is an expert on Building Energy Modeling, Building Energy Performance M&V, and chilled water system Hydraulic Modeling for manufacturing plants. He also has extensive field experience on very complex air handling units and conventional and heat pump chiller plants. He specializes in design phase system selection and energy efficiency optimization. Wei has published over 15 energy conservation-related technical papers and reports.
You can reach Wei with process cooling and HVAC-related questions at guow@ornl.gov.