Trane TRG-TRC016-EN manual Operator Training and Support, Operator Interface

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Chiller-Plant Control

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Operator Training and Support

Figure 108

Operator Interface

System-level communication and control is very important. Today, the amount of communication between the components (chillers, cooling towers, pumps, control valves, and so forth) has increased immensely, allowing many chilled- water systems to be fully automated.

In some facilities, however, the largest energy user in the HVAC system (the chiller plant) has not progressed beyond manual control. In some cases it was reduced to manual control shortly after the building was commissioned.

Why does this occur? Chillers are large, with very expensive pieces of equipment which, if damaged by incorrect operation, can cost the owner a substantial amount of money to repair or replace. Operators are, therefore, very sensitive to chiller plant operation. If the operator does not understand how the system is designed and controlled, it is likely that the system will be put into a manual control mode. Therefore, initial and ongoing operator training and support is critical.

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