Chilled water is circulated through a water coil equipped air handler to cool the living space and at the same time heat is absorbed from the air and.
Water cooled air conditioning systems wacs.
Instead of circulating air through 18 inch air ducts chilled water is circulated through one inch pipes which fit easily into very tight spaces.
Water cooled systems do require more maintenance as stated above but the maintenance costs are also offset by the longer life times these systems benefit from.
Water cooled air conditioning systems wacs are intrinsically have a higher cop coefficient of performance than air cooled air conditioning systems aacs.
How water cooled air conditioning systems work.
Water cooled systems run much longer as long as they are.
Water cooled air conditioning systems wacs are widely used in the commercial sector for energy efficiency but not in the domestic sector.
Wacs using fresh water cooling towers for individual building is generally more energy efficient consuming up to 20 less electricity than air cooled air conditioning systems.
Water is used to cool the hot air refrigerant 180 f or 82 c from the compressor by pumping counter flow water in the condenser.
It has been found that there are no mathematical models and energy simulation programs to enable detailed investigation and evaluation into the energy performance of water cooled air conditioners.
Whereas an air cooled system would require less maintenance it would also break or require costly part or unit replacements.
Fresh water from lakes or rivers is preferred to seawater as.
This table compares air cooled and water cooled systems using national averages for a 400 ton cooling system.
Owners of non domestic buildings 1 and other buildings 2 are encouraged to use fresh water cooling towers and to join the fresh water cooling towers scheme.
Note that each specific cooling system should be analyzed because of variances mineral content of make up water system load annual hours of operation etc to determine site specific energy savings greenhouse gas ghg reductions.