The award-winning Turbomiser chiller breaks new ground in terms of energy saving, reliability, low maintenance and low carbon emissions.
It uses a combination of several innovative technologies, each of which on its own is able to contribute a significant benefit, but when combined and optimised deliver unprecedented performance efficiencies and energy savings.
It is the result of close collaboration between two UK companies, Cool-Therm and Klima-Therm, and Italian manufacturer Geoclima. At its heart is a new type of compressor that uses virtually friction-free magnetic bearings.
Over the past year, claims for the chiller have been proven in a number of high profile projects (see later) which have delivered substantial and quantified energy savings for clients.
Main benefits
The Turbomiser delivers the following main benefits to users and the environment:
Reduced energy consumption
The latest version of the technology, the Turbomiser II, requires between 30 to 50 per cent less energy compared with conventional systems based on screw, scroll or reciprocating technology. This dramatic reduction in power requirement is achieved without compromising the cooling performance of the machine.
Reduced refrigerant leakage
Refrigerant leaks are unnecessary, costly and – entirely avoidable. They are a consequence of poor design and/or maintenance of plant. The Turbomiser is designed to minimise or avoid leaks altogether, through reducing the number of components and joints in the system.
Reduced maintenance
As a result of the oil-free design and limited number of moving parts, the Turbomiser requires no oil changes and much reduced servicing to ensure efficiency and reliable running. The technology is highly reliable and proven to save the end user cost and reduce down time.
Compact and lightweight
The Turbomiser packs a lot of cooling power into a small space. The compressor weighs just 125kg compared with 600kg for typical screw and reciprocating machines. This frees up plant rooms, reduces loading on rooftops and enables chillers to be sited in spaces considered too tight for standard chiller technology.
Excellent part load efficiency
The use of a variable speed drive enables chiller output to be finely controlled between 15% to 100% of capacity, enabling cooling to be matched precisely to load. Given that in the UK chillers operate at part load the bulk of the time, this helps significantly reduce energy consumption and ensure effective cooling.
Very quiet operation
Noise is a growing issue, particularly with the introduction of air conditioning to buildings in built-up and residential areas. The Turbomiser addresses this through exceptionally quiet operation, down to 67dbA at five metres. Due to its design, the Turbomiser is also virtually vibration free – there is no need for anti-vibration mountings or special supports.
Low start-up current
Conventional chillers may require up to 600 Amps starting current, putting a huge draw on a building’s electricity supply – and sometimes requiring an expensive upgrade of the sub-station. The Turbomiser requires just 5 Amps, saving cost and maintaining headroom for other essential services.
The technology behind Turbomiser
The chiller is based on a combination of technologies, designed to reduce energy consumption, minimise or avoid leaks, reduce refrigerant charge, ensure reliable operation and deliver quiet running:
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Inverter-controlled Turbocor compressors whose output can be precisely matched to load;
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Micro-channel aluminium condensers, that reduce refrigerant charge while increasing the effectiveness of heat exchange;
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Flooded evaporators that ensure optimum energy transfer between refrigerant and water;
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Use of a liquid refrigerant pump system that significantly increases thermodynamic efficiency across the chiller’s operating range;
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Speed control on fans to match performance to demand and reduce energy consumption;
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A sophisticated chiller control system that integrates with that of the onboard integral compressor control to optimise performance of the system as a whole.
Proven savings
A Turbomsier installation at The Dorchester in London is saving the hotel some £10,000 a month in energy costs.
Independent tests carried out by a leading UK consultancy have proven the exceptional energy performance of the Turbomiser.
Mike Creamer, of consultant Business Edge Ltd, carried out the tests on an operating Turbomiser chiller at Geoclima’s factory in Italy. He used a ClimaCheck Performance Analyser to run detailed analyses of the 700kW machine’s performance at various conditions.
It showed exceptional COPs of between 7 and 15.5 at typical mid-season conditions, with average performance of between 5 to 7. Overall, compressor isentropic efficiency was over 77 per cent.
Turbomiser represents a new generation of ultra efficient chillers that is set to replace conventional screw and reciprocating-based chillers as the new mainstream technology of choice.
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