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The construction and rehabilitation sector demands efficient solutions from the energy point of view. Evaporative cooling guarantees energy savings in refrigeration and air conditioning systems in buildings, maintaining environmental respect and contributing to the fulfillment of priority savings objectives in any construction.
The conditioning system, whether heating or cooling, used in the design and operation of any building represents a priority when it comes to undertake a respectful urbanization with the environment, efficient from the energy point of view and according to the principles bioclimatics In particular, the widespread use of air conditioning is one of the main reasons for the high energy demand that exists today.
In 2017, the demand for electric power was 252,755 GWh, 1.6% more than in 2016, according to the data provided by Red Eléctrica de España. It is the third consecutive year that the upward trend continues. Only in the Community of Madrid domestic spending on heating, air conditioning and hot water sanitary round 23.6%, a percentage high enough that any action aimed at the energy improvement of air conditioning in buildings has an impact on consumption global.
In this sense, the saving of energy and the search for alternative formulas that contribute to reduce energy consumption have become a constant in recent years, so that the adoption of measures to ensure energy savings of both new buildings as in the rehabilitations it has proliferated, often, sponsored by state aid and by the legislation itself.
Why use evaporative cooling?
Currently, any measure aimed at ensuring energy efficiency in air conditioning systems in buildings, whether industrial, commercial or residential, is essential to achieve the savings objectives that prevail in any construction.
In this context, evaporative condensation cooling is an alternative of proven efficiency. Although it is true that, traditionally, the measures articulated in order to promote energy efficiency in this sector have focused on the use of renewable energy, evaporative condensation cooling is essential to achieve energy savings, especially if compared with alternatives such as air cooling. The latter offer much lower conditions in terms of energy savings. In air conditioning and refrigeration installations, energy efficiency and electric power consumption are directly related to the condensing temperature of the refrigerant used, less in evaporative condensation than in air condensation.
Proof of this is its inclusion in the measures designed by the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), in order to favor energy savings, five of which affect the building sector and one to the equipment and in All of these devices appear as a real alternative to energy savings.
From the economic point of view, these equipments offer an ideal combination of energy use and installation cost, which results in an optimal investment / performance ratio compared to similar solutions. In addition, the initial average investment is lower and results from rapid recovery thanks to the energy savings generated.
Evaporative cooling: energy and economic savings
Evaporative cooling, technology used in refrigeration and air conditioning installations with water condensation, is a natural process that uses water as a refrigerant and is applied to the transmission of excess heat from different processes and thermal machines to the atmosphere.
These devices (cooling towers and condensers) offer an ideal combination of energy use and installation cost, which results in an optimal investment / performance ratio compared to similar solutions. In air conditioning and refrigeration installations, energy efficiency and electric power consumption are directly related to the condensing temperature of the refrigerant used, less in evaporative condensation than in air condensation.
The electrical energy consumption of these equipment is, consequently, lower. In air cooling systems, as the condensation temperature increases, the refrigeration production of the installation decreases, that is, to produce the same refrigeration effect, a compressor, an electric drive motor and a condenser of larger sizes and costs are required.
Its benefits are multiple:
- The installation is simple and fast, since no major works are required.
- These equipments are up to five times less heavy and bulky than those of air condensation.
- It contributes to the reduction of the greenhouse effect by limiting indirect CO2 emissions thanks to the saving of electrical energy consumed, and direct, given the lower risk of gas leaks when working with lower pressures.
- The use of water is reduced, so that the savings, compared to one-step cooling systems, exceed 95%. The water is recirculated and returned to the environment in the form of steam and drainage water.
- the acoustic impact is lower than in similar solutions, which also reduces the costs of soundproofing.
- Its efficiency has increased thanks to the use of materials resistant to corrosion and to maintenance treatments that, in addition to guaranteeing protection against Legionella, optimize the operation of the equipment.
- The evolution of evaporative cooling equipment in recent years has been constant. Between them they emphasize, indeed, those that optimize the energetic performance of the towers of cooling. This is the case of high efficiency motors, which meet the IE 2 and IE 3 standards, offer a very high performance. The frequency converters that allow the regulation and control of the operation of the equipment contribute dramatically, so that the need for energy is exactly adjusted to the consumption and maintenance needs. The result is an operation of the “a la carte” tower with the consequent energy optimization.
- Both in terms of energy efficiency and social and health safety, maintenance is an indispensable factor, so manufacturers take into account the need to facilitate the work of technicians with advances such as automated purge systems. avoid high salt concentrations. Likewise, the towers can incorporate bacteriological control systems and continuous water treatment that keep them in optimal conditions.
- Lastly, with regard to materials, its evolution has focused on high-efficiency fillers that have been transformed thanks to the use of resistant materials, mainly polypropylene and polyester, which offer great strength and allow for severe cleanings; Another component of the tower in which the materials have improved are the high efficiency drop separators, which have undergone a similar evolution in terms of composition and effectiveness when it comes to reducing the exit by dragging water droplets outside the tower forming aerosols. The latter is a critical aspect when transmitting to the atmosphere possible colonies of bacteria
Article made by the Technical Committee of AEFYT (Association of cold companies and their technologies)
Control Y Ventilacion, S.L. is a company of international renown within the industrial and livestock sector, for being a manufacturer of products within the evaporative cooling sector, such as the HUMIBAT, evaporative plastic cooler; or its NUCLEOS towers, Cooling Towers. In both products, which the substrate in which the evaporative is produced is a plastic honeycomb, a honeycomb resistant to both physical and chemical attacks, and at the same time flexible, is a honeycomb with mesh structure, manufactured in High Density Polyethylene , and marketed under the names of PANAL C & V or if it is a separator of drops, SEPARADOR C & V.
For more information you can see the following links:
www.controlyventilacion.com/refrigeracion-evaporativa/
www.controlyventilacion.com/relleno-y-separador/
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