Why now’s the time to invest in a heat recovery chiller
As COVID-19 has put additional stress on our HVAC systems, facility managers will need to find ways to save energy and maintenance funds where they can. Heat recovery chillers, widely found in today’s state-of-the-art new hospitals, provide a double economic benefit:
- They reduce the heating load, and
- They reduce the ancillary power needed to reject the heat, thereby reducing energy costs. Some building owners are turning to heat recovery simply for its environmental benefits and carbon credits.
And more good news for facility managers? Heat recovery chiller replacements are gaining traction in existing hospitals too. Energy funds and utility rebates are covering the retrofit costs, freeing up valuable maintenance and capital budgets.
TECHNOLOGY AND PROJECTED SAVINGS:
Unlike traditional chillers that waste heat generated from the cooling process, waterside heat recovery chillers capture and apply it to various heating loads—from the process and commercial loads to the potable water used for showers, washing and laundry. Healthcare facilities benefit greatly from these chillers because of the year-round, simultaneous heating and cooling loads required to maintain essential operations.
In fact, several hospitals in B.C.—including the University of BC Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, Eagle Ridge Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital—have already undergone plant upgrades using Trane’s RTWD Heat Recovery Chillers. Units at these five sites range in capacity from 80 tons to 250 tons and account for 10 to 50 percent of total peak cooling loads. Some of the units run 24/7, providing continuous heat to the hospital. While individual projected energy savings range from 8,000-40,000 Giga-Joules per year of gas savings, all combined, the five projects have projected energy savings of over $1M annually for the province!
Chiller Plant Manager Heat Recovery Dashboards
IS MY SITE SUITABLE FOR A HEAT RECOVERY CHILLER RETROFIT?
If you have mandates to reduce gas consumption, and your healthcare facility has year-round simultaneous heating and cooling loads (i.e. server rooms, labs, large domestic hot water loads, or high comfort temperatures required for long-term stays), chances are it’s a good candidate. Most medium and large healthcare facilities fit the requirements for energy funding, utility rebates, and a projected payback of 4 to 6 years with waterside heat recovery retrofits.
The first step is to consult with your maintenance team to determine which of your heating and cooling assets are nearing end-of-operation. Similarly, once your facility has made the decision to move forward on a replacement project, be sure to involve your hospital’s key personnel at the onset. Your FMO team, consultants, projects team, energy manager, and the service provider will all have important perspectives needed when upfront design considerations are being made.
FULL STEAM AHEAD
At Trane, we are continually amazed at how much excess heat energy hospitals generate that could be captured and put to good use. We’re excited to be at the forefront of this exciting opportunity! Please contact your local Trane Service team to find out if you should be looking for waterside heat recovery to pay for your next retrofit. Email info@tranecanadawest.com or call 1-800-473-5600 to be connected to the Trane office nearest you.
