Today, the new dry cooler is utilized for “free cooling.” When the ambient air temperature is low enough, the chillers can be turned off and the dry cooler can satisfy the reduced cooling requirement.
The fluid cooler can be used as the university’s sole cooling source from October through April, further eliminating the need to run the cooling tower unnecessarily for half the calendar year.
Between October and April, the open-loop cooling tower system consumed 871 megawatts of electric energy. During this past season, which was a milder winter than usual, the fluid cooler and associated components used 691 megawatts, resulting in a full 21 percent energy reduction.
Moreover, maintenance expenses decreased as well. In addition to reducing damage to the cooling tower and the wear and tear on chillers, using the dry fluid cooler reduced labour hours needed to monitor and tend to the cooling tower system. It also reduced the amount of water and water treatment chemicals needed for the open-loop tower.
Conclusion
The advancement of coil technology and adiabatic pad efficiency, combined with water saving initiatives and Legionella regulations, have catapulted the popularity of fluid coolers.
Closed-circuit coolers lend themselves to higher efficiency and water conservation. Reducing or eliminating chemical use is an environmental and safety consideration, and as new data centers are installed in cooler climates, new cooling solutions are needed. Engineers and facilities management professionals should consider the use of fluid coolers as part of economical, lower-maintenance cooling system designs, whether that be hybrid fluid coolers, adiabatic coolers, or dry coolers.
Author
