Recooling options
The technology of recooling has a great influence on the operating costs and the efficiency of the entire absorption chiller. There are several ways to recool absorption chillers.
Dry cooler
- Dry coolers in the summer reach a recooling temperature, which is higher than the outside temperature.
- The higher the recooling temperature, the higher the required heating temperature.
- In most cases, operation with a dry cooler is not possible, at least in midsummer.
Evaporative cooler / open cooling tower
- Most reasonable technical solution
- High annual water consumption
- Constantly high power requirement for the cooling water pump
- Water quality management according to VDI 2047
Evaporative condenser
- Slightly more expensive than evaporative coolers
- High annual water consumption
- Utilization of the thermosiphon effect for heat transport (ammonia vapour/ condensate)
- Only a smaller spray water pump is required, but no cooling water pump
- Water quality management according to VDI 2047
Hybrid cooler/ hybrid condenser
- Very expensive
- Water demand only approx. 35 % per year (cf. open cooling tower)
- Spray water pump only in wet operation
- No cooling water pump required for the condenser version
- Water quality management according to VDI 2047
Adiabatic condenser
- Usually somewhat cheaper than hybrid condensers
- Water demand only approx. 10 % per year (cf. open cooling tower)
- No pump required
- City water is sufficient
- No water quality management according to VDI 2047
- Slightly higher recooling temperatures → slightly lower cooling capacity in summer