MNDES Engages Trane for Comprehensive Renewal Update of One of Nine CenTraVac Chillers

The Metro Nashville District Energy System delivered more than 62-million ton-hours of chilled water last year employing nine Trane Dual Compressor CenTraVac commercial chillers. Regular inspection, evaluation and maintenance of the chillers and all other major components of MNDES has helped to keep the system running at a 99.99 percent reliability rate since 2006.

In the fall of 2023, it was determined that Chiller #2 had begun showing issues that needed to be addressed with one of its two compressors. MNDES directed the operator to request the manufacturer (Trane) to provide proposal options to fix the single compressor issue only and to complete a more comprehensive R'newal service addressing all of the major rotating elements of the chiller. It was decided that the more comprehensive approach was a better option for MNDES.

"The renewal of this chiller dovetails with the long-term plans for the entire plant's renewed capacity for providing steam, hot water and chilled water," stated Dan Coyle, president of Thermal Engineering Group, who serves as the Project Administrator for MNDES, "The decision to implement the more comprehensive maintenance approach reduces the likelihood of unplanned downtime and extends the reliable life of this chiller."

Trane service technicians initiated the R'newal service project on chiller #2 in January 2024. Once completed, the process will result in a renewed chiller which is assigned a new product serial number and supported with a seven-year warranty covering all rotating elements including the two motors and two compressors. The CenTraVac R'newal® program addresses the most common causes of performance decline and restores specified efficiency standards, replaces worn components including seals and gaskets, and includes new control unit components.

The project is scheduled for completion by May of 2024. For more information, contact Dan Coyle, Thermal Engineering Group at (615) 226-2611.