Abstract
This master's thesis examines the sustainability of two-stage adiabatic cooling as a potential
alternative to conventional compression refrigeration machines for air conditioning
in industrial buildings. The aim is a holistic evaluation of ecological and economic aspects.
A particular focus is placed on CO2 emissions, electricity and water consumption
and the resulting operating costs. Furthermore, an estimation of the CO2 emissions generated
during production and the inclusion of investment costs enables a holistic comparison
between the technologies.
The two-stage adiabatic cooling is a combination of indirect and direct evaporative cooling.
As a result, the system completely dispenses with refrigerants and energy-intensive
compressors. However, the performance achieved depends on the prevailing climatic conditions
and may be below the specific requirements at times. Methodologically, the analysis
is based on a site-specific simulation. Three different locations are considered in order
to enable a differentiated view of performance under different climatic conditions.
The results show that two-stage adiabatic cooling is a sustainable and economical alternative
to conventional compression chillers under the right climatic conditions. At locations
with climatic conditions such as Linz, two stage adiabatic cooling provides usable
supply air temperatures with lower CO2 emissions and operating costs than a comparable
compression chiller. It can be operated particularly efficiently in dry environments, such
as in Thessaloniki. Here, both the operating costs and the CO2 emissions are significantly
lower than with a comparable compression chiller. However, due to the dependence of
the supply air temperatures on the outside air temperatures, there are a high number of
hours per year at these locations in which the target temperatures are not reached. In
Thessaloniki, this affects 24% of operating hours. Hybrid systems are already being used
to remedy this weakness of two-stage adiabatic cooling. These have a significantly
smaller compression chiller installed in order to be able to provide additional cooling if
required.
alternative to conventional compression refrigeration machines for air conditioning
in industrial buildings. The aim is a holistic evaluation of ecological and economic aspects.
A particular focus is placed on CO2 emissions, electricity and water consumption
and the resulting operating costs. Furthermore, an estimation of the CO2 emissions generated
during production and the inclusion of investment costs enables a holistic comparison
between the technologies.
The two-stage adiabatic cooling is a combination of indirect and direct evaporative cooling.
As a result, the system completely dispenses with refrigerants and energy-intensive
compressors. However, the performance achieved depends on the prevailing climatic conditions
and may be below the specific requirements at times. Methodologically, the analysis
is based on a site-specific simulation. Three different locations are considered in order
to enable a differentiated view of performance under different climatic conditions.
The results show that two-stage adiabatic cooling is a sustainable and economical alternative
to conventional compression chillers under the right climatic conditions. At locations
with climatic conditions such as Linz, two stage adiabatic cooling provides usable
supply air temperatures with lower CO2 emissions and operating costs than a comparable
compression chiller. It can be operated particularly efficiently in dry environments, such
as in Thessaloniki. Here, both the operating costs and the CO2 emissions are significantly
lower than with a comparable compression chiller. However, due to the dependence of
the supply air temperatures on the outside air temperatures, there are a high number of
hours per year at these locations in which the target temperatures are not reached. In
Thessaloniki, this affects 24% of operating hours. Hybrid systems are already being used
to remedy this weakness of two-stage adiabatic cooling. These have a significantly
smaller compression chiller installed in order to be able to provide additional cooling if
required.
| Translated title of the contribution | Sustainability analysis of a two-stage adiabatic cooling system |
|---|---|
| Original language | German (Austria) |
| Supervisors/Advisors |
|
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jun 2025 |
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