Free cooling systems produce "cold" using low temperature outside air or cold deep lake or ocean water as a heat sink. The energy performance of a free cooling system is influenced by a number of factors such as the type of heat sink (e.g. water, air) and its temperature and the coil capacity. Other factors include the size and the type of the cooling load (i.e. space and/or process cooling, single or multiple zones, single or multiple buildings). And the energy performance of a district cooling (multiple buildings) system will also be influenced by the design supply and return temperatures, and the distribution line pipe sizing. Refer to the Free Cooling System Schematic for more information.

Software & Data
The RETScreen Software Free Cooling Model can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for free cooling projects, ranging in size from precooling air or water for space cooling (e.g. air-conditioning) or processes using low temperature outside air or cold deep lake or ocean water, to cooling residential, commercial or institutional buildings or industrial facilities using outdoor fresh air by simply opening windows and/or doors, to community district cooling systems for residential (e.g. houses, apartments), commercial (e.g. offices, warehouses, stores) and institutional (e.g. hospitals, schools, sports complexes, cultural centres) buildings and industrial facilities. The software (available in multiple languages) also includes product, project and climate databases, and a detailed user manual.

Click here to download RETScreen 4 (36 MB).