dissertation regarding district cooling system in Hong kong

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dissertation regarding district cooling system in Hong kong
	
Document Preview: Introduction1.1 BackgroundIn Hong Kong, the electricity consumption is increasing year after year and the use of electricity consumption for HVAC systems contributes 30% of total electricity consumption as described in “Hong Kong Energy End-use data 2015” which means that HVAC system should be paid more attention on its performance of efficiency and sustainable development..For a city in tropics, air conditioning is an essential services for all kind of buildings. Moreover, the ever increasing population and continuous economic development will increase the demand of HVAC system. Nowadays, the vision of HVAC engineers in Hong Kong is not only providing comfortable indoor environment but also optimizing and enhancing the efficiency of HVAC system. Due to the aforesaid circumstance, any new technology, sustainable alternative, efficiency improvement approach for which HVAC system can be applied has accordingly become a key area of concern and are well worth to be investigated such as district cooling system (DCS) that will be studied and demonstrated in this dissertation. District Cooling System (DCS) is a large scale centralize HVAC system that produces thermal energy in the form of chilled water circulating from a central source to multiple buildings or facilities through a distribution piping network with thermal insulation. DCS is also an energy efficient system as it integrates many chiller plants in each buildings into a single cooling production center. As compared with traditional air-cooled air-conditioning systems and individual water-cooled air-conditioning systems using cooling towers, it consumes 35 percent and 20 percent less electricity respectively. (EMSD, 2002)Hong Kong government implement the first district cooling system in Kai Tak Development in 2010, to provide cooling to public and private commercial developments. This DCS is to provide cooling for government buildings, hotels, offices and retail buildings with a total floor area of...

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Running Header: A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  1
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  2 
Table of Contents 
      ABSTRACT       4 
1. CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION       5  
1.1. Introduction / Background        5 
1.2. Aims and Objectives        10 
1.3. Research Methodology        11 
2. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW      13 
2.1. Introduction          13 
2.2. Review          14 
2.2.1. Benefits of District Cooling       15 
2.2.2. Key issue of Design and Design process     19 
2.2.3. Peak-Day Hourly Load Profile      20 
2.2.4. Chiller And Pumping Configuration     21 
3. CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY     25 
3.1. Brief Introduction         25 
3.2. Methodology Used         26 
4. CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH / INVESTIGATION     27 
4.1. Introduction          27 
4.2. Implementation of Methodology Used      27 
4.3. Description of Data Collected       27 
4.4. Analysis & Findings         30 
5. CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION   43  
5.1. Introduction          43 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  3 
5.2. Conclusions and Recommendations      43 
5.3. Recommendations For Further Research      44 
References          45
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  4 
ABSTRACT  
In the context of Hong Kong, the overall consumption of electricity is increasing on an annual 
basis each year and in specific the utilization of consumption of electricity with respect to 
Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (“HVAC”) systems contribute to 30 per cent of the overall 
electricity consumption levels as has been described in report titled “Hong Kong Energy End use 
data 2015”. This signifies that the HVAC system need to be accorded more focus over the 
performances in terms of efficiency levels as well as sustainable development. In this context, 
the overall objectives concerning this dissertation titled “A Study on District Cooling System in 
Hong Kong” comprised the following, (i) A detailed undertaking and comprehensive comparison 
between the conventional form of chilled water based cooling system with respect to water 
cooled as well as air cooled based system, and (ii) In addition to this comparative assessment, it 
is also planned to undertake investigation of the design related consideration as well as the 
various difficulties relating to the implementation of DCS form of cooling system. The specific 
methodology applied to undertake the study include collection of relevant data and pursue 
suitable analysis shall pertaining to a case study based research study wherein the DSC based 
cooling system found in Hong Kong was identified, studied in detail and relevant collected to 
address the twin objectives of this study. The overall findings, analysis and outcome of the study 
are presented in detail.
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  5
1. CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION         
1.1. Introduction / Background 
In the context of Hong Kong, the overall consumption of electricity is increasing on an 
annual basis each year and in specific the utilization of consumption of electricity with 
respect to Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (“HVAC”) systems contribute to 30 per cent 
of the overall electricity consumption levels as has been described in report titled “Hong 
Kong Energy End use data 2015” (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013). This 
signifies that the HVAC system need to be accorded more focus over the performances in 
terms of efficiency levels as well as sustainable development (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 
2014; Chua et al, 2013). 
. 
For any city across tropics, the requirement of air conditioning services becomes an essential 
form of services across all forms of buildings (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 
2013). In addition, the increase in population that is always growing and also the continuous 
development in economic aspects in a combined manner increase the overall demand levels 
relating to HVAC systems (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013). In present 
times, the prevailing vision amongst the HVAC engineers across Hong Kong are not just in 
offering comfortable form of indoor environment, but in addition to enhance and optimize 
the overall efficiency levels relating to HVAC systems (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; 
Chua et al, 2013). On account of the circumstances aforesaid, any newer form of technology, 
alternative for sustainable operations, improvement over efficiency levels as an approach 
towards which any HVAC system could be applied need to suitably become the primary area 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  6 
of focus as well as one that is well worth in being investigated like that of the District 
Cooling System (“DCS”) which shall be studied in a detailed manner and the relative 
advantages shall be demonstrated over the course of this dissertation (Shu et al, 2010; Yang 
et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013).
DCS essentially refers to a centralized form of large scale HVAC system which shall 
generate thermal energy by way of the circulation of chilled water from one central source 
towards multiple set of facilities or buildings by way of a piping network for this distribution 
using suitable thermal insulation (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013). More 
importantly, DCS represents the system that is energy efficient as the same integrates various 
chiller plants across each of the buildings / facilities to single centralized production centre 
for cooling (Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013). When compared with that of 
the conventional forms of air-cooled and air-conditioning forms of systems as well as 
individual air-conditioning systems based on water cooled models that use the cooling 
towers, DCS has proven consumption levels of electricity that is 35 per cent and 20 per cent 
lesser respectively. (EMSD, 2002; Shu et al, 2010; Yang et al, 2014; Chua et al, 2013)
The government of Hong Kong implemented the initial DCS across the Kai Tak 
Development during the year 2010, for providing the cooling system for private / public 
commercial establishments (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). This DCS has 
been established for providing cooling systems for varied set of buildings / facilities - retail 
buildings, offices, hotels and government buildings with an aggregate floor area totalling to 
roughly 1.73 million Sq. meters as well as comprising of close to 39 kilo meters of total pipe 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  7 
network for distribution as well as two separate plant rooms (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 
2011; Ge et al, 2011). The overall capacity of cooling to the maximum extent that shall be 
generated by this DCS aggregates to about 83250 RT while all of the buildings under the 
scope of this DCS are fully occupied and are in operation during summer. (Environment 
Bureau, 2013; Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). The DCS is essentially 
categorized as two distinct form of chiller plants as in centralized form of cooling sources 
(Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). Subsequently, 26 of the chillers shall be 
installed in a gradual and shall be put in operation (Tam, 2014; Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 
2011; Ge et al, 2011).
In the context of Hong Kong, air-cooled based water chillers use ambient air to be the heat 
sink which rated with the temperature levels of 35 degree Celsius as well as the concerned 
co-efficient of performance (“COP”) (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011), 
representing the ratio of the cooling output to the power input, ranges across the values 
between 2.6 and 2.9 comprising the condenser fan powers (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 
2011; Ge et al, 2011). Although, the water cooled form of chiller plant using sea water form 
of cooling have the rated water proceeding with temperature of about 28 degree Celsius and 
moving out with the temperature levels of 33
 
degree Celsius and in this case COP levels 
concerning with chiller plants could be between 4.1 and 5.2, or sometimes much higher 
(EMSD, 2012; Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011)
The implementation and setup of DCS are being undertaken in an increasing trend across 
globe and the same has prompted the government of Hong Kong in also implementing the 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  8 
same system across the Kai Tak Development (“KTD”) as well as attempt in applying over 
other newer developments across the Hong Kong (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et 
al, 2011). DCS could aid in serving varied forms of the building like that of hospitals, 
residential buildings, commercial buildings / facilities, etc. (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 
2011; Ge et al, 2011). A DCS could be developed in a rapid manner across the globe on 
account of varied set of reasons (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). In 
addition to the minimization of the space occupied by chiller plant across a building, 
efficiency levels of energy could also be substantially enhanced and hence the cost of 
operation, as well as cost of maintenance could be significantly reduced (Gang et al, 2015a; 
Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). In having evaluated the consultancy study produced and 
published by the entity called Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited, the same indicated 
that DCS being applied across SEKD could result in the saving of energy at about 19 per cent 
and 35 per cent respectively when compared to that of standalone systems of air conditioning 
operating over cooling towers as well as air cooled form of chillers (EMSD, 2003; Gang et 
al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011).
In the context of this dissertation, relevant case study shall be pursued and undertaken with 
an aimed for evaluating comparative assessments between energy saving from DCS as 
against the conventional form of cooling systems (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et 
al, 2011). In essence DCS was originally designed and constructed for serving several 
buildings / facilities as a group which includes the larger scale centre for sport, high rise 
structure of a hotel, as well as the office building across Wan Chai wherein continuous form 
of cooling are essential all through the months in a year (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  9 
Ge et al, 2011). In buildings that are existing, there are no requirements in terms of the 
calculation of cooling load as well as in addition the loading profile in actual could be 
determined on the basis of the data arising from the cooling systems that are prevailing 
(Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). On account of this fact that these 
building essential are of varied forms, their respective peak demands shall not be across same 
or similar time and hence the factor of diversity need to be considered in focus towards the 
estimation of cooling load as well as this specific factor need to account in addition to the 
variations concerning the occupancy (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). The 
centre for sports having three different storeys is spread across 190,00 Square Meter of gross 
level floor area as well as floor to floor level of area being 6 meter and in a typical sense 
offering wider range in terms of the leisure facilities indoor like that of squash courts, 
basketball courts, and various other such facilities (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et 
al, 2011). A chiller plant has been installed across the ground floor offering chilled water 
towards the respective fan coil units, primary air units and air handling units by way of 9,000 
kilo Watt peak level cooling load (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). It had 
been observed that this centre for ports has been occupied with people over the full working 
hours between 07:00 Hours and 22:00 Hours (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 
2011). Although, there have been very limited people occupancy at this centre for sports 
between 07:00 Hours and 18:00 Hours while there had been peak level occupancy between 
18:00 hours and 22:00 hours. In the other aspect, the other buildings being planned to be 
catered to, that is hotel as well as commercial building, by way of DCS possess 2500 kilo 
Watt as well as 3000 kilo Watt cooling loads in respective manner (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et 
al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). This commercial building / facility being planned to be catered to is 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  10 
solely utilized for the purposes of accommodating offices which are essentially occupied 
during the normal working business hours between 07:00 hours and 18:00 hours as well as 
the levels of occupancy at this commercial building is almost close to zero post the business 
hours of 18:00 hours (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). By way of 
simulating this building with the newer new DCS on the basis of the prevailing scenario, the 
same is aimed for quantitatively accessing whether these district form of cooling system 
could attained the levels of performances that are more efficient and economical as compared 
to the conventional forms of cooling systems (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 
2011).
A DCS aids in serving these varied buildings in a simultaneous manner and on account of the 
same in consequence DCS shall have the peak level cooling loads that are lower as compared 
to sum of the each peak level cooling loads of the various buildings (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia 
et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). Thus, the overall diversity element ingrained needs to be 
evaluated while determining the capacity of cooling relating to district systems of cooling 
(Gang et al, 2015a; Xia et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011). The factors of diversity relates to that of 
ratio concerning the aggregate sum of maximum level loads for each of the individual 
buildings towards the peak level demands concerning with the DCS (Gang et al, 2015a; Xia 
et al, 2011; Ge et al, 2011).
1.2. Aims and Objectives 
The overall objectives concerning this dissertation titled “A Study on District Cooling 
System in Hong Kong”  is in undertaking detailed and comprehensive comparison between 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratio
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  11 
the conventional form of chilled water based cooling system with respect to water cooled as 
well as air cooled based system. It is essential for finding out and determining if the DCS 
form of cooling system is comparatively friendly to environment and more profitable and 
thus suitable alternative for the conventional forms of chilled water based cooling system to 
deal with that of cooling demand for the future of Hong Kong. In addition to this 
comparative assessment, it is also planned to undertake investigation of the design related 
consideration as well as the various difficulties relating to the implementation of DCS form 
of cooling system. As the HVAC systems account for over 50 per cent power consumption 
overall (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013), it shall not just be 
the cost related implications for the owner of a building but also from an environmental 
sustainability perspective as the required electricity are generated by relying over non-
renewable and greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels, specifically natural gas / coal as is the 
case across Hong Kong. For the purposes of reducing the costs relating to operation by owner 
of building as well as towards protection of the environment, the overall objective of the 
dissertation is in comparing the DSC form of cooling system with that of the conventional 
forms of cooling system as well as study potential relating to energy saving in the DSC when 
used across the regions located in sub-tropical area with higher density population similar to 
that of Hong Kong.        
1.3. Research Methodology 
Research methodology refers to the overall design of the research being undertaken, the 
methods employed to collect the relevant primary and / or secondary data, and method of 
analysis undertaken on the data so collected to address the research objectives by 
determining suitable outcomes (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  12 
McCartan, 2016). In this context the research method employed for this study derives from 
the basis or the overall objective of this study which includes, undertaking detailed and 
comprehensive comparison between the conventional forms of chilled water based cooling 
system with respect to water cooled as well as air cooled based system (Herr & Anderson, 
2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). It is essential for finding out and 
determining if the DCS form of cooling system is comparatively friendly to environment and 
more profitable and thus suitable alternative for the conventional forms of chilled water 
based cooling system to deal with that of cooling demand for the future of Hong Kong (Herr 
& Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). In addition to this 
comparative assessment, it is also planned to undertake investigation of the design related 
consideration as well as the various difficulties relating to the implementation of DCS form 
of cooling system (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). As 
the HVAC systems account for over 50 per cent power consumption overall (Duanmu et al, 
2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013), it shall not just be the cost related 
implications for the owner of a building but also from an environmental sustainability 
perspective as the required electricity are generated by relying over non-renewable and 
greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels, specifically natural gas / coal as is the case across Hong 
Kong (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). For the purposes 
of reducing the costs relating to operation by owner of building as well as towards protection 
of the environment, the overall objective of the dissertation is in comparing the DSC form of 
cooling system with that of the conventional forms of cooling system as well as study 
potential relating to energy saving in the DSC when used across the regions located in sub-
tropical area with higher density population similar to that of Hong Kong (Herr & Anderson, 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  13 
2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). The specific methodology applied to 
undertake the study, collect relevant data and pursue suitable analysis shall pertain to a case 
study based research study wherein the DSC based cooling system found in Hong Kong shall 
be identified, studies in detail and relevant data shall be collected to address the twin 
objectives of this study (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). 
Essentially, the data that shall be collected in this regard shall be secondary data with both 
qualitative as well as quantitative forms of data types (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 
2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016). On the basis of the study so undertaken and relevant data 
collected, qualitative form of analysis shall be pursued to address the objectives of this 
research study (Herr & Anderson, 2014; Jackson, 2015; Robson & McCartan, 2016).
2. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW       
2.1. Introduction  
The overall objectives concerning this dissertation titled “A Study on District Cooling 
System in Hong Kong”  is in undertaking detailed and comprehensive comparison between 
the conventional form of chilled water based cooling system with respect to water cooled as 
well as air cooled based system. It is essential for finding out and determining if the DCS 
form of cooling system is comparatively friendly to environment and more profitable and 
thus suitable alternative for the conventional forms of chilled water based cooling system to 
deal with that of cooling demand for the future of Hong Kong. In addition to this 
comparative assessment, it is also planned to undertake investigation of the design related 
consideration as well as the various difficulties relating to the implementation of DCS form 
of cooling system. As the HVAC systems account for over 50 per cent power consumption 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  14 
overall (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013), it shall not just be 
the cost related implications for the owner of a building but also from an environmental 
sustainability perspective as the required electricity are generated by relying over non-
renewable and greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels, specifically natural gas / coal as is the 
case across Hong Kong. For the purposes of reducing the costs relating to operation by owner 
of building as well as towards protection of the environment, the overall objective of the 
dissertation is in comparing the DSC form of cooling system with that of the conventional 
forms of cooling system as well as study potential relating to energy saving in the DSC when 
used across the regions located in sub-tropical area with higher density population similar to 
that of Hong Kong.
2.2. Review 
DSC form of cooling system are either being planned to be established or else already being 
used across varied set of organizations like that of private sector development organization, 
public sector development organization, power utilities, etc. (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et 
al, 2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013) and other companies in recent time, leading to overall 
reduction across the cost of energy consumption (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; 
Abdullah et al, 2013). Although, most parts of the country continues to use and rely over the 
conventional forms of cooing systems (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; Abdullah et 
al, 2013).
In case of Hong Kong, significant levels of attention are actually being paid over the 
application concerning the DSC form of cooling systems towards the purposes of cooling 
A Study on District Cooling System in Hong Kong  15 
across newer as well as large scale of developments (Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 
2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013). Hence, for the purposes of addressing the critical issue 
pertaining to issues of technical nature, instrumentation relating to metering, controls, 
distribution systems, operation of the DSC plant, risk related considerations, overall design 
process and designing with respect to the piping as well as insulation materials and also the 
methods of connection, reviewing of the earlier studies that are hence being pursued 
(Duanmu et al, 2013; Haiwen et al, 2010a; Abdullah et al, 2013).  
2.2.1.

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