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Danfoss Turbocor compressors get A+ from college

28 April 2011
Installing new cooling chillers with Danfoss Turbocor compressors is saving Florida State College US$90,000 a year and education is no longer disturbed by noise from the cooling system.
As part of a renovation plan, the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) researched a number of upgrade scenarios for its chiller plant. The study ultimately decided on the selection of a McQuay WMC model chiller using two oil-free Danfoss Turbocor compressors with variable speed and magnetic-bearing.

This solution has resulted in much-improved energy efficiency for the North Campus facility.

“Our energy bills have been cut by close to US$90,000 a year,” says Mark Gandy, FSCJ North Campus HVAC Facilities Manager. “At that rate, our payback for this project easily fits our three-to-five-year timeframe. When you add in the quietness, reliability, and environmental benefits, this machine with Danfoss Turbocor compressors earns an A+ in my book.”

Efficient start-up with low electric consumption
According to Mark Gandy, the electricity company immediately noticed when the new chiller came on-line.
 
“They saw electricity consumption was noticeably lower. Plus, they didn’t see a big demand surge when the chiller came on-line. One of our conventional chillers can pull as much as 800 to 1,000 amps at start-up. When a Danfoss Turbocor compressor starts, it’s barely a blip on their radar screen. The soft-start motor pulls just a few amps.”

No more noise and oil
The quietness of the chillers was also very important for the college.
 
“The chiller plant is right next door to some classrooms. At low loads conventional chillers are noisy but this chiller hums like a vacuum cleaner at the far end of the room. You almost forget it’s running,” says Mark Gandy.

Another advantage is that the Danfoss Turbocor only has one moving part. This eliminates the need for oil lubrication, which provides two distinct benefits. Lubricating oil hinders heat transfer significantly; a chiller with an oil content of 4% loses 9% efficiency. Also, lubricating oil from conventional chillers must be processed like hazardous waste, which takes time and incurs expense.
Facts: 
  • The State of Florida has average temperatures of almost 27 degrees Celsius from April to October
  • Three centrifugal chillers serve a complex that consists of four buildings covering 350,000 square feet
  • The chillers deliver 1,000 tons of cooling to the complex.


Picture to the right:
A McQuay WMC chiller using Danfoss Turbocor compressors has resulted in much-improved energy efficiency at Florida State College.