Procedure to obtain the optimal distribution cooling capacity of an air-condensed chiller plant for a hotel facility conceptual design

The article presents a novel methodology for designing chiller plants for a hotel facility to determine the optimal distribution of the chillers cooling capacity that compose the plant. The methodology proposes three phases. In the first, the statistical analysis allowed to determine the cooling demand required in the facility, where the constructed thermal demand profiles reflect future operating conditions, and to obtain the individual cooling capacities of the chillers. In the second phase, the black box models were built to simulate the chillers energy performance and, using a mathematical algorithm allows to obtain a combination of chiller plants. The third phase constitutes the energy evaluation through the solution of a mathematical optimization problem and using a genetic algorithm. This was carried out under the sequence approach and the optimal load of each machine against the working conditions. This analysis allows calculating the performance, the life cycle cost, and the indirect environmental impact. The paper proposes a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of applying the methodology to the initial design stage, achieving a saving of 14,4%. Finally, using statistical analysis, the method allows comparing the relationship between each chiller plant considering the design and operating parameters. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.