Daikin recently introduced an integrated water-side economizer for its Pathfinder Air-cooled Screw Chiller. The WSE, providing what is commonly known as “free cooling,” uses outdoor air to naturally cool water and other process fluids, reducing compressor work and increasing chiller efficiency.
The unit also operates without needing water from a cooling tower. This drastically cuts water use, as well as costs for water, sewer and chemical treatment.
By adding an on-board economizer to the Pathfinder, both tuned at the factory to optimize control and performance, technology decreases installation and commissioning times, and related expenses. Overall, it can trim upfront capital costs by as much as 40% compared to traditional economizer applications.
The integrated layout also is more compact, reducing air-flow clearances and interconnecting pipes. Plus, the chiller’s pipe headers are made of multi-layer polypropylene to eliminate corrosion and contaminants while trimming weight and the load on a building’s roof. They are located on the exterior of the unit for service and maintenance access, and are removable, too, allowing the entire unit to fit in a standard shipping container.
Efficient cooling in a smaller footprint allows for larger facility scale and higher power densities. It enables code-compliant designs as well, helping meet ASHRAE 90.1 and 90.4 standards, and other regional and local codes.
