Brazil. A data center found in an LG Electronics chiller the solution to guarantee its continuous cooling process and reduce its energy expenditure.
The approach of this project responded to the client's need to obtain flexibility through several units by providing modular phased installation, part-load operation using geothermal energy and safe operation with 11 systems per block being N+1 (10+1).
Project description
It is an air conditioning project for a Data Center with modular growth.
Each module has a capacity of 3000 KW (2x 1500 kW) and the first module must have a backup chiller. The others will use the backup of the first module, each building supports up to 5 modules, totaling 15,000 kW per building.
The project includes 4 buildings with a total capacity of 60,000 kW.
Each building has a CAG where the chilled water supply and return system operates in a ring to allow flow in either direction, allowing for simultaneous maintenance of all elements of the system.
Project differential
With the growth in cooling demands due to the growth of internal processing, more and more technologies are being developed and adapted to reduce the electrical consumption of these systems while increasing operational reliability and safety.
Therefore, in addition to differentiated operating parameters, energy reuse is sought as a way to reduce costs.
In this particular case, the return of chilled water will pass through a geothermal recovery system in saturated soil at a constant temperature, naturally reducing the return temperature (free-cooling) and, consequently, reducing cooling efforts.
With the selected chiller, you get the advantage of maintaining the same circulating flow, reducing energy consumption by up to 50%.
Therefore, chillers capable of operating at partial loads provide the desired operational safety, the right capacity and significant savings compared to a conventional system.
Project Concept Geothermal Energy
- Use of artificial lake to improve heat exchange.
- Pipe system under the bottom of the lake (lower temperatures)
- Natural convection within the lake.
The theoretical model indicates an estimated required length of 600 m – 750 m depending on the project conditions for a difference of 3°.
The simulated results compared to the theoretical model have variable errors.
Promising result for the mixture of water and ethylene glycol, but more checks are needed given the relative error.
According to LG Selección, the Screw Inverter Chiller operates at 100% load with an input of 26.83ºC and an output of 17ºC
With the use of geothermal energy for return cooling, the chiller's inlet temperature will drop to 22ºC, with this operation a partial load of 50% is reached.
This will reduce consumption from 519 kW to 258.1 kW per unit.
This will mean a reduction in consumption of almost 50%.
Proceeds
- Reduced energy consumption.
- System security, with 1-unit redundancy.
- Longer service life due to part-load operation.
- Use of heat recovery by Geothermal (Free Cooling).
