On the calculation of critical values for refrigeration equipment
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Our company’s cooling capacity is 5049 KW, which corresponds to an (electrical) shaft power of 2200 KW (1+10%). There are two options: one is to use electricity directly to drive the ice maker for cooling, and the other is to use the by-product steam to drive a turbine for cooling. It should be noted that this power value represents exactly a critical value. It is more cost-effective to use electricity below 2200KW; for levels above 2200KW, investing in a turbine and a high-pressure boiler allows for both cooling and power generation, which is more economical. I would like to ask the experts here: how is this critical value of 2200 KW calculated?
I don’t quite understand what exact question you are trying to ask. To put it simply: using a turbine as a drive mechanism is feasible only if there is waste steam available. If you generate the steam yourself, or if the cost of that steam is low, then it can be considered an option. The specific calculation should involve having the turbine supplier provide the amount of steam required to achieve a cooling capacity of 5049 kW; then multiplying that by the unit price of steam and dividing by your unit price for electricity – this will give you the break-even point