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How Does a Steam Turbine Chiller Work?

Isabel Prontes

Chillers are machines (absorption devices) that eliminate heat from a liquid using a vapor-compression method. They are, simply put, cooling systems. Steam turbine chillers utilize steam at a moderate pressure for a motive source. Steam turbine chillers are often used because they provide benefits over other varieties of steam-powered absorption chillers (double effect). They need significantly less space for installation, and they have higher off-design point effectiveness because of their natural changing and varying speed options.

Background

Function

The main function of steam turbine chillers is that steam is offered to steam turbines, which then rotates a compressor around. The compressor then gives the motive some force, spurring a normal vapor compression cycle (refrigerant). In these instances, necessary cooling is produced within the evaporator. Then the exact same cool water is brought onto the steam condenser in order to soak up all of the heat necessary for the steam condensing (for the steam that is leaving the steam turbine). The steam that is condensed goes back to the source of steam generation.

Benefits

Steam turbine chillers were created in order to offer highly effective performance in situations of both design as well as off-design. They are designed to maximize the potential of the varying speed capabilities of the steam turbine and then smoothly deliver high chiller speed and increasing efficiency of operation and running. These are just a few of the reasons why steam turbine chillers are becoming increasingly more popular and common as chillers.