Colorado Springs, Colorado • Completed July, 2002
Comprehensive analysis comparing thermal storage and conventional chiller options for campus cooling expansion. The study evaluated capital costs, operating expenses, and lifecycle costs, ultimately recommending a centrifugal chiller with primary/secondary pumping conversion.
Colorado College was expanding campus facilities and cooling loads were increasing. They had a central chilled water plant and several satellite chilled water plants dedicated to specific buildings. Several chillers in these plants were nearing the end of their useful life and utilized CFC type refrigerants. A master planned approach was needed to determine the most cost-effective method to meet current and projected future cooling loads while phasing out CFC refrigerants.
This project involved comprehensive analysis of the campus cooling loads and existing chilled water systems to determine the most cost effective method to meet current and projected future cooling loads. The analysis evaluated the capital cost of construction, the annual operating cost, and the life cycle cost for each of the following systems:
The analysis determined that both options had nearly identical installed cost on a per peak ton of capacity basis. The savings in annual operating cost were relatively small due to the local electrical rate structure. Therefore the cost savings did not justify the increase in energy consumption. From a master planning approach, the most significant factor was the limited space within the central plant and the difficulty of installing the required equipment for the thermal storage system while still leaving space for future expansion.
Colorado College decided that the new centrifugal chiller was the preferred option. They also preferred to convert the plant to a primary/secondary pumping system.
SEC performed a hydraulic analysis of the existing chilled water system and determined that the existing distribution pumps were adequate to support the new chiller and the current campus loads. Therefore due to budget constraints, the conversion to a primary/secondary distribution system was scheduled to be included in a future phase of the central plant expansion.
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