Located in the heart of Kyrenia, Cyprus, Rocks Hotel, a five-star seaside resort, has chosen THERMOCOLD, a leading cooling group brand from Italy, distributed by Atlantik Grup.
At Rocks Hotel, situated right by the sea, seawater is used instead of a cooling tower, achieving at least 30% energy savings in terms of electricity and water consumption.
As is well known, the economic performance of heat pumps and water-cooled chillers depends on the characteristics of the heat source. An ideal heat source should have a high and constant temperature during the heating season, be easily available, and have suitable thermophysical properties that are free from corrosive and polluting effects. Therefore, using seawater as a heat source for large facilities with significant cooling needs located near the sea offers businesses a significant operational cost advantage.
Seawater temperatures in Cyprus vary depending on the region, season, and depth. The lowest temperatures are measured in January and February, while the highest occur in August and September. However, at depths of 20 to 50 meters, seawater temperatures remain constant between +10°C and +15°C year-round, both in winter and summer.
In seawater cooling systems, a structure is built between the sea and the building that naturally allows seawater to be drawn in. This structure is positioned below the zero elevation, forming a two-chamber system that is fed by natural flow from the seawater.
Filtration occurs between the chambers, referred to as the pre-storage and clean storage tanks.
During the construction phase of the project, the thermophysical properties of seawater are evaluated, and the distance and depth of the seawater intake point from the shore are determined. The system is then designed accordingly. To prevent marine life, algae, and other contaminants from entering the system, special circulation pumps and titanium exchangers resistant to seawater are used at the intake points. Additionally, next-generation filters are employed to protect the exchangers and pump systems.
In the seawater intake system, seawater is circulated between the clean storage tank and the heat exchanger via circulation pumps, enabling heat transfer. This design ensures that the seawater does not come into direct contact with the chiller system. The evaporator circuit produces 7°C cold water, which is circulated through the building’s cooling system with the help of evaporator pumps.
The condenser circuit of the cooling unit is connected to a titanium seawater heat exchanger instead of a traditional water-cooled cooling tower. As a result, the heated water returns to the heat exchanger, where it cools down through contact with the seawater circulating in the exchanger’s second circuit, continuing the cycle.
Efficient and Eco-Friendly Systems use seawater as an energy source.In large facilities with high cooling capacity needs, especially those located near the sea, efficient, eco-friendly systems that use seawater as the heat source should be preferred instead of traditional cooling systems.
Thermocold brand water-cooled chillers stand out in the chiller market with their high EER and ESEER values, easy installation, compact design, and low noise levels.
The seawater-cooled chiller application at Rocks Hotel in Cyprus will serve as an example for other hotels due to its significant advantage in low electricity consumption.
THERMOCOLD chillers are Eurovent certified and are produced in Italy in accordance with ERP directives.
Unfortunately, as a country, we are highly dependent on energy imports. By choosing highly efficient heat pumps that use seawater, ground, or air as a source for HVAC systems, we can significantly contribute to reducing both our current account deficit and carbon emissions.