OptiChill FreeCool - Airedale launches new free-cooling chiller that saves more than 50% energy consumption and can spend over 95% of the year in free-cooling
Leeds, UK, January 12, 2012 -
The OptiChill FreeCool is a large capacity, free-cooling version of its high efficiency R134a air cooled OptiChill screw chiller and is ideal for data centre cooling applications.
Highly energy efficient, the 750 – 1300kW OptiChill FreeCool offers more than 95% free-cooling over a year (cumulative hours, London, UK) and can save more than 50% of the energy consumed by a conventional chiller, greatly reducing operational costs.
Free-cooling
For up to 30% of the year, the OptiChill FreeCool can operate purely in free-cooling mode, with Free-cooling Energy Efficiency Ratios (EERs)* of up to 75, significantly reducing operating costs throughout the product’s lifetime.
Complete versatility ideal for data centre cooling
Four case sizes; two free-cooling variants (two and three rows of coils); three fan variants including optional EC fans** and two sound level variants in each range, present a choice of over 200 model permutations. This flexibility, together with a raft of options, allows selection of the optimum specification.
New modulating screw compressor technology offering high performance coupled with low sound and vibration levels, sees a 12.5°C increase in the operational evaporating temperature range. This allows supply water temperatures to be increased, raising the free-cooling threshold and giving enhanced compressor efficiency and reduced power input. A 1°C increase in fluid temperature can give a 10% increase in the chiller energy efficiency.
The compressors also offer eight stages across dual refrigerant circuits for optimum efficiency, performance and reliability. Efficient shell and tube evaporator with freeze protection offers an extremely high evaporating temperature for a given supply water temperature.
Large surface area condenser coil benefit from enhanced tube and fin for greater heat exchange, improving air flow configuration without increase in sound and further enhancing system performance and efficiency.
When applying interactive head pressure setpoint management, the controls strategy for the OptiChill FreeCool modulates the fans to achieve the optimum efficiency (peak EER) for the unit at any ambient temperature. Sound levels are also reduced particularly in part load operation.
The inverter-controlled pump option with flow monitoring and water filter offers the ultimate in water flow control. Significant energy savings can be made by running the pump to achieve exactly the right flow for the application.
Air conditioning controls and integration
An optional Chiller Sequence Manager integrates up to eight chillers into a single operating system to provide best-fit, energy-efficient solutions, ensuring equal usage of compressors and allowing remote set point adjustment and alarm management. Energy Manager for power consumption analysis is also an option.
ACIS, the Airedale Controls Integrated System, integrates the OptiChill FreeCool with Airedale’s precision air conditioning and IT cooling products to provide real end user benefits in reducing power usage.
*Free-cooling EER at 15°C return water; 20% ethylene glycol; 3°C ambient temperature and based on TOTAL input power of fans. Free-cooling is available for up to 95% of the year
** Standard AC fan, optional EC (Electronically Commutated) fan or high air flow EC fan
Related article links
OptiChill FreeCool Website >>
OptiChill FreeCool Brochure >>
Airedale Controls Integrated Solutions (ACIS) >>
Air Conditioning Product Brochure >>
