Heat-Recovery Chillers: Worth the Cost?

摘要

Today's thermal energy facilities are striving to provide heating services in a more cost-effective manner, and one option being considered more and more frequently is heat-recovery chillers. But before implementing this technology, the designer should begin a detailed cost analysis to determine whether the cumulative savings in operational costs will justify the capital investment and the increased maintenance costs associated with the heat-recovery chillers and their auxiliary equipment. The first thing to do is identify all cash flows that will result from a heat-recovery project. It's a good idea to list all costs associated with the heat recovery chillers, as well as those associated with not pursuing the heat recovery project. In other words, the economic analysis must consider the initial costs of the project as well as the annualized operational and maintenance costs associated with each alternative.