Hybrid Cooling Systems

A Hybrid System uses a combination of electricity and either oil or LP for heat.

Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Hybrid Systems

Hybrid Systems can be classified as either traditional or non-traditional. In the traditional configuration, the system consists of two equally zies chillers -- one electric and one alternatively fuelled chiller, such as a natural gas engine-driven, steam turbine-driven, or gas or steam absorption chillers. During hours of high electric rates, the alternative chiller handles the base load while the electric chiller covers the remaining load. In the non-traditional arrangement, the alternative chiller handles the entire load when the electric rates are higher and a smaller, electric chiller operates only when electric rates are the lower cost choice. Tests of both designs have shown that a non-traditional hybrid system can be cheaper to operate and provide more redundancy than a traditional hybrid plant.