NSK, a major Japanese engineering company specialising in motion and control technology, applied THERMAL-XR® graphene coating to an air-cooled chiller at its site in Chonburi, Thailand, and measured an 11.34% reduction in energy use, translating to an estimated saving of 616,871 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 | UWAP160BY |
| Equipment age | 10 years |
| Energy savings | 11.34% |
| Cooling efficiency | 0.920 → 0.816 kW/ton |
| Annual cost saving | 616,871 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, this cooling load is carried by a Daikin air-cooled chiller with a capacity of 119 tons, which has been in service for 10 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: 3,357 kWh/day before coating vs 2,977 kWh/day after
- Electricity cost: 453,315 THB/month before coating vs 401,909 THB/month after
- Carbon emissions: 547 tons CO2/year before coating vs 485 tons CO2/year after
- Cooling efficiency: 0.920 kW/ton before coating vs 0.816 kW/ton after
- Annual saving: 616,871 THB per year
- ROI: < 1 year
These results equal an energy saving of 11.34%, with the chiller using about 11% less power for every ton of cooling it delivers.
Takeaway
This second NSK case shows that coating an existing air-cooled chiller can cut electricity costs by more than 600,000 THB a year without replacing equipment, paying for itself in under a year on a unit that has been running for 10 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.