CenTraVac® Water-Cooled Centrifugal Chillers

A water-cooled centrifugal chiller is used for the thermal management of large buildings, data centers, or industrial processes. Centrifugal chillers utilize centrifugal force to compress refrigerant and transfer heat from the building or process to a water loop, which is then cooled by a cooling tower or other heat rejection device. These chillers are known for their high efficiency and ability to handle large cooling loads.

Yes!  In fact, for data centers with mission-critical cooling needs, the CenTraVac® Duplex® model CDHH extends the reliable CenTraVac design to deliver over 21MW of cooling capacity for Data Center customers. Simplex and Duplex chiller designs provide a wide range of chiller capacities, all with higher evaporator water operation compared to a standard chiller. CenTraVac® designs enable Data Centers to meet required cooling needs while still enhancing the efficiency of their plant operation for applications requiring cooling towers, dry coolers, or heat recovery opportunities. CenTraVac® chillers are available in multiple voltage options from 460V all the way up to 12kV with various starter and drive options for configurability.

A water-cooled centrifugal chiller operates through a series of steps:

1. Evaporation: The refrigerant absorbs heat from the building or process in the evaporator, causing it to evaporate and turn into a vapor.
2. Compression: The gaseous refrigerant is then compressed by a centrifugal compressor, increasing its pressure and temperature.  Centrifugal compressors use a rotating impeller to impart kinetic energy to the refrigerant, increasing its pressure and temperature. This type of compressor is known for its efficiency and ability to handle high cooling loads, making it ideal for large-scale applications.
3. Condensation: The high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant gas flows into the condenser, where it releases its heat to the cooling water circulating through the condenser tubes. This causes the refrigerant to condense back into a liquid.
4. Expansion: The liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature before returning to the evaporator to repeat the cycle.

The Trane CenTraVac centrifugal chiller helps improve efficiency through several innovative features:

1. Advanced Compressor Technology: The CenTraVac chiller uses a direct-drive, low-speed, multi-stage centrifugal compressor that reduces energy loss and helps improve efficiency.
2. Heat Exchangers: The chiller's evaporator and condenser are designed to enhance heat transfer, reducing the amount of energy required to achieve the desired cooling effect.
3. Environmentally Friendly Refrigerants: Trane's CenTraVac chillers use low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, which not only help improve environmental sustainability but also enhance system performance.
4. Intelligent Controls: The CenTraVac chiller is equipped with our Symbio® 800 equipment controller that helps monitor and adjust operation in real-time, delivering enhanced efficiency and reliability.

These features help contribute to lower energy consumption, reduced operating costs, and a smaller environmental footprint, making the Trane CenTraVac centrifugal chiller a highly efficient and sustainable thermal management solution.