Jesse Cabrera, Stanley Consultants, Muscatine, Iowa

Heat-Recovery Chillers: Worth the Cost?

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.