Regarding heat pumps and chillers
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Dear experts: I have been looking into the applications of various energy-saving technologies recently, and one very important aspect is the use of industrial waste heat for heating and cooling purposes. I roughly understand the cooling principle behind chillers, but I’m confused by certain aspects. For example, in absorption chillers, warm water is used as a heat source to produce cold water at temperatures between 7–15°C. Yet, a large amount of cooling water is required during this process for cooling, and electricity is also consumed. According to the information I’ve read, the amount of cooling water used, Q_cooling, equals the heat input, Q_heat_input, plus the amount of cold energy produced, Q_cold_output. Doesn’t this mean high energy consumption? Is it really more energy-efficient than simply using cold water to cool this low-temperature heat consumption water?
This post was last edited by CHANGBAISHI on 2022-10-10 07:30. It is best to understand the principle and operation of all production facilities before making a judgment. Because you are only focusing on the chiller unit and ignoring the role of the chilled water required in the process, for reference only.
The use of cold water at 7–15 degrees is a requirement of the manufacturing process rather than an energy-saving measure; waste heat can be utilized by employing warm water or low-pressure steam in the production of such cold water, thereby achieving energy savings and emission reductions. If cooling can be achieved using plain cooling water, then cold water at 7–15 degrees would not be used.