Exclusive air-conditioning
A Mexican resort hotel stays cool thanks to heat exchanger technology.
DATE 2023-11-28The exquisite Cancún Palace all-inclusive resort in Mexico has been running an air-conditioning and swimming pool-heating system based on Alfa Laval heat exchangers since late 2006.
The cooling system uses three Trane-branded water-cooled chillers with centrifugal compressors (each with 887 tons of refrigeration capacity) that are chilled by bountiful, free sea-water obtained from a well close to the ocean. The condensers on each of these chillers/compressors are cooled by two Alfa Laval M10 titanium-plated heat exchangers, meaning that a total of six heat exchangers are used for the condensers. This provides a much cheaper solution than other possible alternatives.
An additional two M15 titanium-plated heat exchangers are used to heat the hotel’s pools using the condensers’ warm-water discharge as a heating agent.
Four more air-conditioning installations
For local contractor Tecnoterma, which has worked with Alfa Laval equipment for many years, the system’s reliability and its comparatively small footprint laid the groundwork for similar air-conditioning installations at four other resorts on the Riviera Maya in Cancún. The latest of these was built in 2007.
Products
The following plate heat exchanger models was installed:
- M10 titanium-plated heat exchangers
- M15 titanium-plated heat exchangers
The plate heat exchangers use the condensers' warm water discharge as a heating agent.
Customer
- Cancún Palace Resorts with 601 rooms
- Located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico
- Contractor: Tecnoterma
Solution
- Air-conditioning system based on a central chilled seawater system that supplies cold freshwater to cool the condenser of each chiller.
- Cooling-tower technology was originally considered, but it was soon determined to be more expensive and more maintenance intensive.
- Cooling effect: 21-25°C
- (70-77°F) inside and outside temperatures of 36 °C (97°C)
- Extensive energy savings: 62% savings when using water-cooled chiller instead of air-cooled chiller, plus the opportunity to heat pools at no additional cost.
- Additional 7-10,5% savings achieved by using seawater-cooled condensers instead of cooling-tower system.