SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING/LAKE SOURCE COOLING
SEAWATER AIR CONDITIONING/LAKE SOURCE COOLING
Seawater Air Conditioning/Lake Source Cooling (SWAC/LSC) technology produces air conditioning without the use of chemical agents. Acting alone, SWAC/LSC can reduce electricity usage by up to 90% when compared to traditional air conditioning systems. When developed in conjunction with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants, it operates entirely without the use of fossil fuels.
An environmentally responsible technology, SWAC/LSC plants use less fresh water and reduce environmental impact when compared to traditional air conditioning methods. SWAC/LSC systems are particularly suited to large commercial operations such as resorts, hospitals, airports, shopping centers, even entire cities.
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) developed Seawater Air Conditioning in the 1980s while conducting research and development for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).
Using the same underwater pipes to draw cool water from the depths of the ocean, NELHA concluded that it could develop chemical-free air conditioning while offering significant savings when compared to conventional practices.
HOW IT WORKS
SWAC/LSC plants range in size from 400 to 80,000+ tons of cooling capacity and draw millions of gallons of cold water from an ocean or lake to act as a cooling agent for large-scale air conditioning. As the cycle completes, it can be combined with a nearby desalination plant to provide fresh water.
- SWAC/LSC is environmentally responsible, and reduces carbon emissions by 80-90%.
- With an endless supply of cool ocean water, this revolutionary cooling technology is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Equipment is designed to last 50 years and is easy to operate and maintain.
- SWAC/LSC reduces reliance on fossil fuels, as well as the need for chillers or cooling towers.
- By reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions by up to 90%, SWAC/LSC dramatically cuts energy costs, which remain stable throughout the life of the contract.
- SWAC/LSC runs on clean energy from local resources, which keeps money spent on energy in the local economy.