For decades, plastics processors have had to select chillers based on their maximum cooling-capacity requirements. While this approach ensures plenty of chiller capacity, it is not always energy efficient. That is because typical chillers are equipped with fixed-speed compressors (fixed-speed motors and compressor scrolls) that operate at maximum speed and capacity regardless of the load. To avoid excessive cooling on less-than-full-capacity loads, most chillers utilize a hot-gas bypass to introduce an additional, artificial cooling load. As a result, power consumption with these chillers remains fixed at a high level, regardless of actual process cooling requirements.

To provide more energy-efficient process chilling for less-than-full-load chiller capacity, auxiliary equipment makers have sought out and implemented new compressor technology. The first advance, involving digital-scroll compressors, began in the early 2000s. Digital-scroll compressors were the first that enabled chillers to unload cooling capacity, serve smaller loads and reduce power consumption.

Chillers with digital-scroll compressors also utilize fixed-speed motors; however, they can modulate chilling capacity with the help of digital controls. First, the controls sense chilling demand from the load, then they modulate capacity by time averaging the engagement of the compressor scrolls with the motor until the demand is met. When chilling capacity is not needed, the scrolls are disengaged: Cooling capacity is unloaded, motor load is reduced and power consumption savings are realized.

Though digital-scroll technology was the first to enable variable-capacity chillers without the need for a hot-gas bypass, its success in producing energy savings has been limited. Energy consumption relative to chiller output remains relatively high for most partial loads.

An alternative approach to variable chilling capacity is found in the adoption of chillers with variable-speed compressors. Instead of running the motor at a fixed speed with modulated on/off cycles (as a digital-scroll compressor operates), variable-speed compressors vary the speed of the motor to match the cooling load. This capability, which is managed through advanced PLC controls, constantly monitors and adjusts compressor speed for peak efficiency, varying the capacity of the chiller as needed. As such, the result of using variable-speed compressors is a consistent and proportional energy savings throughout the chiller’s capacity range.

Comparing Compressor Technology and Energy Savings

The ability to combine power savings with the ability to handle low, partial and full loads are the reasons why one chiller manufacturer chose variable-speed compressor technology for its water- and air-cooled 10-ton and 20-ton portable chillers. In tests against 10- and 20-ton chillers equipped with fixed-speed compressors, variable-speed chillers provide energy savings in a range of realistic conditions.

FIGURE 1. When operating with a 40 percent load, the 10-ton variable-speed compressor consumes 39 percent of full-load power.

FIGURE 2. When compared to a 20-ton chiller equipped with dual 10-ton, fixed-speed compressors, a 20-ton chiller equipped with dual 10-ton, variable-speed compressors is more power and energy efficient.

FIGURE 3. A 10-ton chiller with a digital-scroll compressor is not as power efficient as a 10-ton chiller with a variable-speed compressor.

One chiller manufacturer performed three head-to-head comparisons under real world conditions to determine the differences in compressor efficiencies. For the tests, fixed-speed, digital-scroll and variable-speed compressors were installed on otherwise identical chillers with identical loads. Below are the results of these tests.

Test 1: Fixed-Speed vs. Variable-Speed 10-Ton Chiller

Figure 1 shows that, when operating with a 40 percent load, the 10-ton variable-speed compressor consumes 39 percent of full-load power. At the same load, the fixed-speed chiller consumes 89 percent of full-load power. The variable-speed compressor provides energy savings, and the level of efficiency can continue proportionally throughout the capacity range.

Test 2: Fixed-Speed vs. Variable-Speed 20-Ton Chiller

The 20-ton variable-speed chiller combines a 10-ton variable-speed compressor with a 10-ton fixed-speed compressor (figure 2). This compressor combination yields savings throughout the capacity range when compared to a 20-ton chiller equipped with dual 10-ton, fixed-speed compressors.

Note that the spikes in power consumption from 45 to 50 percent of capacity occur for both chillers as they activate their second compressor to handle loads that exceed 10 tons. However, as soon as its second, fixed-speed compressor comes on line, the variable-speed chiller again self-adjusts its output to minimize power consumption and maximize total power savings. In the load range between 50 and 70 percent, the variable-speed chiller uses 20 percent less power than the fixed-speed unit. Thus, the 20-ton variable-speed portable chiller provides power savings at partial loads from 3 to 8 tons and 11 to 16 tons.

Test 3: Digital-Scroll vs. Variable-Speed 10-Ton Chiller

Relative to conventional fixed-speed compressors, digital-scroll compressors can improve chiller energy efficiency at partial chilling loads. When operating under a partial load, however, variable-speed compressors provide more power efficiency than digital-scroll compressors.

As shown in figure 3, a standard 10-ton chiller with a digital-scroll compressor is not as power efficient as the chiller with a variable-speed compressor (lower line). While both of these options are more efficient than fixed-speed chillers, a 10-ton chiller with a digital-scroll compressor uses 58 percent of full-load power at 30 percent load and 86 percent of full power at 70 percent load. The variable-speed compressor in the 10-ton variable-speed chiller consumes 36 percent of full-load power at a 30 percent load, and 62 percent at a 70 percent load.

The energy savings generated by variable-speed compressors in variable-speed chillers offer a variety of benefits (see tables). They include:

• Savings in process cooling costs.
• Greater productivity and reduced scrap due to optimal process temperature control.
• The ability to replace or eliminate multiple chiller sizes and associated maintenance costs with a single unit.

The energy savings generated by variable-speed compressors in variable-speed chillers offer a variety of benefits.

These and other benefits of variable-speed compressor technology also mean rapid payback on your investment. This is true particularly for those with a higher proportion of low load and partial-load chilling requirements, where cost savings are greatest and payback occurs most quickly. Many processors can expect payback on a variable-speed chiller in one year or less. PC