Influence of Natural Primary Thermal-Source Temperatures on Power Consumption in Air-Conditioning Plants

This paper is focused on exploring the potential of connecting air-conditioning plants to primary thermal sources qualified by temperatures. Several connection layouts between plant components and thermal sources are investigated. Traditional systems including chillers and heat pumps, as well as systems based on chillers equipped with partial or total heat recovery devices are considered. The influence of primary thermal-source temperatures on overall design performance of such systems is deeply investigated and results focusing on power consumption and energy savings, as well as on reduction of CO₂ emissions produced by the source of mechanical work, will be presented and widely discussed.