Double-walled heat exchangers retrofitted inline to chillers or existing refrigeration units can capture up to 20 per cent of excess heat that is generated.
This exceptional saving was identified by level three audits as an excellent way to reduce energy costs, especially for hotels and motels that use considerable amounts of hot water on a daily basis.
Owners, managers and maintenance personnel need practical methods to hold down costs while offering guests air conditioned rooms and ample hot water.
Double-walled heat exchangers or desuperheaters can help achieve this heat capture.
Mechanical refrigeration systems from five to 200 tonnes and in some cases up to 1000 tonnes are able to be retrofitted in just one day, according to AHTT. That’s 3.5kw to 704kw free to use on heating potable water.
An entire hotel of over 200 rooms can heat water without any supplementary heating for guest rooms, restaurants and general purposes.
AHTT's unit can be attached directly to hot water storage tanks or used to preheat incoming water to the boiler.
This enables customers to benefit from the free heat that is captured to reduce running costs. Also, a desuperheater boasts a short payback period, depending on energy rates.
After six to 18 months, water is free, as there are no additional pumps or energy consuming accessories.
Another benefit of a desuperheater installation is increased condenser capacity of up to 15 per cent, which is ideal for hot days or sudden spurts in demand.
It is not unusual to experience a five to 10 per cent reduction in chiller operation costs when a desuperheater is fitted.
Greenhouse gas savings are an additional benefit being enjoyed by hotel management. For example a 20kw desuperheater on an electrical heating system saves 108 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year.
For more information contact AHTT on ahtt@bigpond.net.au or see www.heattransfer.com.au
