A computer simulation, or model, of a chiller plant must, by the author’s definition, duplicate the performance of the real plant within 1%-3% to qualify as a tool to design and evaluate the plant at any and all operating conditions. Accomplishing 1%-3% duplication of real chiller plant performance requires an equation for all components of a plant that effect the performance of the plant. The equations must be solved simultaneously so that the effect of all components of the system are at equilibrium with all other components. Each component of a real chiller plant and a chiller plant model affects the performance of other components as conditions change. The chiller and tower are the primary components of a chiller plant and, therefore, must have very actuate thermodynamically correct equations to accomplish the 1%-3% requirement.
This article, Part 2 in this series, will show that the System Energy Equilibrium (SEE) Plant Model can duplicate the performance of the Kansas City chiller/tower manufacturer’s data presented by an ASHRAE article1. The next article, Part 3, will show duplication of Trane’s2 chiller selection data, and Part 4 will show compliance with and the importance of the tower in the performance of a chiller plant. These four articles establish the validity of the SEE Plant Model so that further analysis and understanding of chiller plants can be achieved.