From the November 2013 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


Heat recovery works just the way it sounds: by capturing heat that would otherwise be lost into the atmosphere and in turn, reducing building operating costs.

This feat is usually accomplished using at least two condensers. Taking advantage of the fact that hot refrigerant vapor moves to areas with the lowest temperature, the temperature in the standard condenser is turned up, causing the refrigerant to flow to the second, where the heat is transferred to the water flowing through the tubes.


The hot water can then be used for various purposes: it can heat spaces around the building, warm the reheat coils in air conditioning systems or be used for the bathroom, laundry or kitchen. Essentially, any building that requires both cooling and heating can make use of this technology.

Over the last two years, energy-efficient free cooling chillers have also been a primary area of focus for facilities looking to curb energy costs.

Free-cooling chillers take advantage of colder air temperatures outside to assist in chilling water — ideal for the central and northern areas of the U.S.

Whenever the outside temperature falls below the temperature set point, a valve allows all or part of the chilled water to bypass an existing chiller, directing the water instead through a special “free cooling” coil that makes use of the outside air temperature to cool it.

The end result? Refrigeration compressors automatically turn off as the system relies more and more on ambient air.

This technology brings some key benefits: chiller components are subject to less wear and tear because they‘re able to run less during winter months. And, of course, facilities stand to save a lot by reducing energy costs.

Copper vs. plastic
Certain manufacturers are also now using plastic piping in place of copper— a trend that’s causing some backlash. While this substitution may result in cost savings, some OEMs don’t think it justifies the drop-off in quality.

“We have found that plastic is not reliable out in the field,” says KR Product’s Smith. “Even though plastic companies will say it’s reliable, as far as what we can control in the chillers — it’s all copper and metal.”

According to Smith, chillers with plastic piping might work in a mild climate like Miami, Florida, but in Minnesota, where temperatures can drop to thirty degrees below zero at night, the changes in temperature might crack the plastic.

Motivair’s Whitmore is also cautious about switching over to plastic: “We have not yet approved or tested to approval level the use of plastic pipes — there’s no customer advantage. Really, the only advantage would be in manufacturing costs, but we haven’t proved it’s of any advantage to us,” he says.

November 2013 Magazine

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