CH-89-15-2 -- Installation and Operating Experience of a Gas Engine-Driven Chiller with Engine Heat Recovery PDF

As part of a research institute’s development program, a 150-ton gas-engine-driven chiller was installed in a Washington, DC, hotel in August 1987. An engine heat recovery system was included to take maximum advantage of the waste heat available from the engine. An existing 5000-gal hot water storage tank was incorporated into the system to supply a large portion of the hotel’s hot water needs during the summer cooling season.

This paper details the system design and discusses the site-specific problems encountered and solutions adopted. The installation and start-up experience is discussed and lessons learned for future applications noted. The operating experience to date is presented, including the average Ioad profile, the actual coefficient of performance (COP) data, and the total heat recovered. Finally, the actual energy costs are presented and compared with alternative systems of supplying both chilled and hot water.