Modular Chiller Plant Assembly to Reduce Installation Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for chilling water in turbine inlet cooling systems face inefficiencies in heat transfer and operational flexibility, particularly in managing varying cooling coil loads and requiring extensive on-site engineering for installation.
Innovation Solution
A modular chiller plant design comprising multiple pump modules and chiller modules arranged to form a perimeter wall, allowing for flexible configuration and operation, with optional thermal energy storage and variable speed pumps, and a master controller for optimized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional chiller systems are used, then installation requires extensive on-site engineering, but this increases installation time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The chiller system is divided into multiple independent modules (chiller modules, pump modules, heat exchanger modules) that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. Each module contains its own components and can function semi-independently, allowing for faster installation without extensive on-site engineering while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The modules are pre-assembled and pre-configured at the manufacturing stage with all necessary components, connections, and controls already in place. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for extensive on-site engineering work, reducing both installation complexity and installation time while ensuring proper configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed capacity chillers are used, then system is simpler to design, but it cannot adapt to varying cooling coil loads efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates variable speed pumps and modular chiller units that can dynamically adjust their operation based on the actual cooling load requirements. The variable speed pumps can modulate their speed to match the cooling coil load, while multiple chiller modules can be selectively activated or deactivated to provide the exact required cooling capacity, enabling efficient adaptation to varying loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changing operational parameters such as pump speed, chiller capacity activation, and flow rates to match the cooling load requirements. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than relying on fixed capacity equipment, the system achieves efficient load adaptation while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized modular components.
3Ease of operation
If modular design is implemented, then operational flexibility is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular components are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that can be used across different system sizes and applications. The same basic module types (chiller modules, pump modules, heat exchanger modules) can be combined in various quantities to create different system capacities, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining operational flexibility through modular configuration options.
Data Source
AI summary
A chiller plant includes a first pump module having at least one first pump module wall; a second pump module having at least one second pump module wall; and a plurality of chiller modules each having at least one chiller module wall. The first pump module, the second pump module, and the plurality of chiller modules may be placed together to form the chiller plant. The at least one first pump module wall, the at least one second pump module wall, and the chiller module walls may collectively form a perimeter wall around at least a portion of the chiller plant. Other embodiments of the chiller plant, and methods for its use, are described herein.