Technical Case Study: Mitigating Low Delta-T Syndrome in High-Capacity Chilled Water Networks
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Low Delta-T Syndrome is a critical operational anomaly that severely degrades central plant efficiency in primary-secondary chilled water networks. When return water temperatures drop below design specifications, chillers operate under low thermal loads while pumping energy increases exponentially. This technical case study details the field-based diagnosis, thermodynamic impact analysis, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) interventions, and control re-engineering applied to a 4,500-RT chilled water plant. Corrective actions—including the installation of Pressure-Independent Control Valves (PICVs), differential pressure sensor relocation to the critical index coil, and system re-balancing, restored design temperature differentials (Delta T = 6.7C/12F), reduced specific plant power consumption from 0.85 kW/ton to 0.66 kW/ton, and improved overall plant Coefficient of Performance (COP) by 28.2%. Keywords: HVAC, Testing Adjusting Balancing (TAB), Low Delta-T Syndrome, Chilled Water Plant Efficiency, Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV), District Cooling, NEBB, Commissioning
Author: Al Haj, Younes
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7171302444
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