The future of CFC chillers
Despite CFCs being banned in new equipment since 1995, many CFC chillers are still in use. The Montreal Protocol mandated that all chillers operating on outlawed CFC refrigerant be replaced or reengineered for refrigerant change outs by 2010. How ever the size and cost of a chiller puts replacement out of reach and will be every ones last thing to do. The time, money, planning, and possible building modifications required to replace a chiller is over whelming in some cases. When it comes to chiller replacement, the cost can be $200 per ton for equipment and another $100 per ton to install it. Often with a lengthy payback and not to mention the prospect of a helicopter lift or crane lift from a 30 story building.
Building owners with aggressive preventive maintenance programs find that their chillers are working fine and can in some cases extend the life cycle for a chiller. Eventually the equipment must be overhauled and a decision must be made to repair or replace. Chillers today are lasting longer, leaking less, and keeping the building occupants comfortable. Run it into the ground or replace it is the question that owners face. Especially if a trouble free chiller would cost $120,000 to replace it, the economic argument run it till it quits. Chiller maintenance costs are low in comparison to purchased equipment costs and in many cases provide a better return on investment.
Motivating factors to change out a chiller would be based on forward thinking to replace before a major breakdown or to provide a better level of service. Are the service frequencies going up? Are the efficiencies going down for the equipment and it costs more to operate? Are their still technicians available to work on the older equipment?
Capacity reduction will occur with older chillers when the refrigerant is changed out. An old R-11 machine will be replaced with R-123 and capacity will be reduced because of the refrigerant characteristics. Before you know it a $50,000 conversion will be half the cost of a new chiller. New refrigerants will eat up the motor linings, and gaskets of the machine. If you wait to long the disposal of expired refrigerant will carry a hefty price tag. Today you may receive a credit tomorrow you may have to pay. R-410A and screw chillers are the rave and the other choices are still R-134A and R-22 chillers.
I would sat that about 40% of chillers will replaced by 2010 and all the rest will be changed out as a last resort and come with a hefty price tag. Please respond to me if you have any comments on this topic.
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