NSK, a major global manufacturer of industrial and automotive bearings and precision machinery, applied THERMAL-XR® graphene coating to an air-cooled chiller at its site in Chonburi, Thailand, and measured a 13.85% reduction in energy use, translating to an estimated saving of 558,187 THB per year and a return on investment of under 1 year.
Case at a glance
| Customer | NSK Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Location | Chonburi, Thailand |
| Site type | Bearing manufacturing plant |
| Equipment | Air-Cooled Chiller |
| Brand | Daikin |
| Capacity | 119 tons |
| Model | UWAP1S0BY2 |
| Equipment age | 18 years |
| Energy savings | 13.85% |
| Cooling efficiency | 1.200 → 1.034 kW/ton |
| Annual cost saving | 558,187 THB/year |
| Return on investment | < 1 year |
Background
Air conditioning and chiller systems are among the largest electricity users on an industrial site. Over time, condenser coils lose heat transfer efficiency, which forces compressors to work harder and increases energy consumption. At NSK’s site in Chonburi, the cooling load is carried by a Daikin air-cooled chiller with a capacity of 119 tons, which has been in service for 18 years.
The solution: THERMAL-XR®
THERMAL-XR® is a graphene-enhanced coating from Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG), designed to deliver superior heat transfer and protection for heat exchanger coils. The coating was spray-applied to the condenser coils of the air-cooled chiller, with no change to the equipment itself.
Results
Energy use was compared before and after coating:
- Electricity usage: 2,487.15 kWh/day before coating vs 2,142.59 kWh/day after
- Electricity cost: 335,765 THB/month before coating vs 289,250 THB/month after
- Carbon emissions: 405 tons CO2/year before coating vs 349 tons CO2/year after
- Cooling efficiency: 1.200 kW/ton before coating vs 1.034 kW/ton after
- Annual saving: 558,187 THB per year
- ROI: < 1 year
These results equal an energy saving of 13.85%, with the chiller using about 14% less power for every ton of cooling it delivers.
Takeaway
The NSK case shows that coating an existing air-cooled chiller can restore cooling efficiency and cut electricity costs by more than half a million THB a year without replacing equipment, paying for itself in under a year on a unit that has been running for 18 years.
Want similar results at your site?
Get in touch with GMG to discuss your cooling equipment, or find a THERMAL-XR® applicator near you.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +61 7 3063 6638
- Find an applicator: graphenemg.com/graphene-products/THERMAL-XR®/find-an-applicator
Measured energy savings presented in this case study are not predictors of future installation results. Estimated savings should be considered as estimates. Standard GMG disclaimer applies. All contents copyright © Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.