Condenser water system savings

Rather than relegating condenser water system design to standards developed 50 years ago, consider taking a second look. Recent developments such as increased chiller efficiency, the escalating cost of materials, and the increased use of variable-speed drives on pumps and cooling tower fans provide significant opportunities to the owner and designer of condenser water systems.  Taking advantage of these opportunities requires determining the optimum condenser water flow rate.  Present industry guidance has shifted from the “standard” 3 gpm/ton flow rate (and oft-assumed 10°F ΔT) to lower flow rates and larger ΔTs as evidenced below.