2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
(OP)
This unit is a new installation, this is the first winter season it will see. My coworkers seem to be hung up on a chilled water sp of 42 and they like their condenser water above 80. When they run this way, the hot gas bypass is open nearly constantly. I come on shift and raise the chilled water sp to 45 and lower the condenser water sp to 70. The machine purrs like a kitten at 30 percent load and an outside air temp of 36. Will I be able to run this unit into the single digit OATs ? Thanks all, this is my first post.





RE: 2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
RE: 2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
Reduced load in a chiller is supposed to be met with colder condenser water - just look at the AHRI 550/590 rating conditions your chiller would have been tested to:
100% Load - 85degF CW
75% Load - 75degF
50% Load - 65degF
25% Load - 65degF
Note that the chiller doesn't care what is happening outside, only what the evap and cond water temperatures are. If you can give the chiller it's expected CW temps at reduced load you should not have a problem supplying the normal chilled water setpoint.
RE: 2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
If its a York chiller the answer to your question is "yes"
The reason you can do this on the York chiller is that they use a modulating expansion valve, so the valve can open further to accomodate colder condenser water temperatures. This does 2 things;
You will remove a major amount of head from the compressor and your steam consumption should go way down.
You will also pull a stronger vacuum on the back end of your steam turbine with the colder condernser water. You will get more energy out of the steam by doing this.
If its not a York chiller, just make sure that it has a variable orifice plate and you will be fine.
At a previous installation, we had a 2000 ton york electric chiller running with about 250 tons using 65 degree entering condenser water in the dead of winter. Power consumption was minimal with this arrangement (chiller had a 4160 volt VFD)
Can you share with us where this installation is and what kind of equipment you have?
RE: 2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?
RE: 2800 ton steam turbine, 134. can it run all winter with low load?