Trane Chiller PlantAutomation
Trane’s depth of experience in chillers and controls makes us a well-qualified choice for automation of chiller plants using air- cooled Series R® chillers®.The chiller plant control capabilities of theTraneTracer Summit® building automation system are unequaled in the industry. Our chiller plant automation software is fully pre- engineered and tested. It is a standard software application, not custom programming which can prove to be difficult to support, maintain, and modify.
Energy Efficiency
Trane chiller plant automation intelligently sequences starting of chillers to optimize the overall chiller plant energy efficiency. Individual chillers are designated to operate as base, peak, or swing based on capacity and efficiency. Sophisticated software automatically determines which chiller to run in response to current conditions.The software also automatically rotates individual chiller operation to equalize runtime and wear between chillers.
Trane chiller plant automation enables unique energy-saving strategies. An example is controlling pumps, and chillers from the perspective of overall system energy consumption.The software intelligently evaluates and selects the lowest energy consumption alternative.
Regulatory Compliance Documentation Comprehensive documentation of refrigerant management practices is now a fact of life.Trane chiller plant automation generates the reports mandated in ASHRAE Guideline 3.
Keeping Operators Informed
A crucial part of efficiently running a chiller plant is assuring that the operations staff is instantly aware of what is happening in the plant. Graphics showing schematics of chillers, piping, pumps, and towers clearly depict the chiller plant system, enabling building operators to easily monitor overall conditions. Status screens display both current conditions and upcoming automated control actions to add or subtract chiller capacity. Series R™ and other chillers can be monitored and controlled from a remote location.
Tracer Summit features standard report templates listing key operating data for troubleshooting and verifying performance. Reports for each type of Trane chiller and three and six-chiller systems are also standard. Detailed reports showing chiller runtimes aid in planning for preventative maintenance.
Swift Emergency Response
We understand the importance of maintaining chilled water production while protecting your chillers from costly damage. If no water flow is detected to a chiller’s piping, the start sequence is aborted to protect the chiller.The next chiller in the sequence is immediately started to maintain cooling.
In the event of a problem, the operator receives an alarm notification and diagnostic message to aid in quick and accurate troubleshooting. A snapshot report showing system status just prior to an emergency shutdown helps operators determine the cause. If emergency conditions justify an immediate manual shutdown, the operator can override the automatic control.
Integrated Comfort™ Capabilities When integrated with aTracer Summit building management system performing building control,Trane chiller plant automation coordinates withTracer Summit applications to optimize the total building operation.With this system option, the full breadth ofTrane’s HVAC and controls experience are applied to offer solutions to many facility issues. If your project calls for an interface to other systems,Tracer Summit can share data via BACnet™, the ASHRAE open systems protocol.
LonTalk Chiller Controls
LonTalk is a communications protocol developed by the Echelon Corporation. The LonMark association develops control profiles using the LonTalk communication protocol. LonTalk is a unit level communications protocol, unlike BACNet used at the system level.
LonTalk Communications Interface for Chillers (LCI-C) provides a generic automation system with the LonMark chiller profile inputs/outputs. In addition to the standard points,Trane provides other commonly used network output variables for greater interoperability with any automation system. The complete reference list ofTrane LonTalk points is available on the LonMark website. Trane controls or another vendor’s system can use the predefined list of points with ease to give the operator a complete picture of how the system is running.
Hardwire Points
Remote devices wired from the control panel are another reliable method of providing auxiliary control to a building automation system. Inputs and outputs can be communicated via a typical 4-20 mA electrical signal (or an equivalentVdc signal of 0-10 or 2-10) or by utilizing contact closures.
•External ChilledWater Setpoint
•External Current Limit Setpoint
•Condenser-RegulatingValve Control
•Percent of Full Run Load Amps Output
•Condenser Pressure Output
•Refrigerant Monitor Input
•Programmable Relays
Allows the selection of 4 relay outputs from a list of eight different default settings: Alarm-Latching, Alarm-Auto Reset, General Alarm,Warning, Chiller Limit Mode, Compressor Running, Head Pressure Relief Request, andTracer Control. These contact closures may be used to trigger jobsite supplied audible or visual alarms
• Ice Making Control
Provides an interface with ice making control system and safeties, enabling both ice making and daytime comfort cooling
•ChilledWaterTemperature Reset Supplies controls, sensors and safeties to reset the chilled water temperature setpoint based upon return water temperature (standard) or outdoor air temperature (optional)
