Applications

Large tonnage chillers (process and space conditioning) with an existing source of steam

Overview

Steam turbine chillers use medium pressure steam as a motive source. Steam turbine powered chillers offer several advantages over other steam powered (double effect) absorption chillers. Off design point efficiency is superior due to the inherent use of variable speed operation and the space required for installation is less. While it is possible to design steam powered systems for almost any requirement, water chillers are usually offered for larger capacities and exceed 1,000TR (3,500kW) to over 8000TR (28,000kW). Steam sources in the range 100 to 200 psig (7 to 14 barg) are most commonly used.
How They Work

The principle of operation is that steam is fed to a steam turbine, which turns a compressor. The compressor provides the motive force for a traditional refrigerant vapor compression cycle where useful cooling is generated in the evaporator. Heat is rejected in the refrigerant condenser to cooling water. The same cooling water is then also passed to the steam condenser to absorb the heat required to condense the steam exiting the turbine. The condensed steam is returned to the steam generating source.

Case Studies

Comcast - Hybrid Steam Turbine Driven/ Electric Chillers
Providence Hospital - Steam Turbine Driven Chillers
Time-Life Building - Tri-Fuel Chiller System

Product Information Sheets

YORK MaxE YST Steam-Turbine Drive Chillers - 1.43M
YORK TITAN Centrifugal Chillers - 1.97M

Manufacturers

The following ESC Members offer Steam Turbine Chiller equipment:

York

Case Studies

Rowan University - NJ

Go to the Cooling Consortium Web Site

www.gasairconditioning.org

Source: Ian Spanswick, York International