Koelcentrales

Koelcentrales are centralized cooling plants that generate chilled water for multiple buildings or industrial processes. They are a core component of district cooling systems and are also used on large campuses, hospitals, shopping centers, and industrial sites. The plant typically consists of one or more chillers powered by electricity, a condenser (air-cooled or water-cooled), pumps, a distribution network of insulated pipes, and control systems that coordinate operation and demand.

In vapor-compression systems, heat is removed from process or building water by refrigerant cycles in which a compressor raises the refrigerant temperature and pressure, a condenser rejects heat, and an evaporator lowers the refrigerant temperature by absorbing heat from the water. The resulting chilled water is circulated through a network of pipes to air handling units or fan coils in buildings, where it absorbs heat and returns warmer water to the plant. Some koelcentrales employ absorption or adsorption chillers, magnetic bearings, or free cooling where ambient air or water cools the system when outside temperatures are favorable.

There are two main configurations: stand-alone plants serving a single large facility, and district cooling systems that distribute chilled water to many buildings via a network of buried pipes. In district cooling, the centralized plant can achieve higher efficiency and allow shared maintenance, but requires substantial civil infrastructure and interconnection agreements.

Environmental and efficiency considerations include the use of refrigerants with low global warming potential, energy optimization through variable-speed drives and heat recovery, and integration with renewable energy or cogeneration when available. Regular maintenance, redundancy, and reliable controls are essential for continuous performance.