Ansaldo Energia S.p.A. is recognized as one of the largest producers of power generation plants and energy solutions in the world: born in 1853, in the following century and a half it assisted the energy development in Italy. Currently, the Group is held at 59.9% by Cdp Equity (Italian Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group) and 40% by Shangai Electric. It employs 4,500 people in various local companies around the world.
MITA Cooling Technologies is already a supplier of cooling technologies for Ansaldo, especially with cooling towers installed at its Genoa site. In the Sardinian energy hub’s case, however, the requirement was to cooldown a synchronous compensator within the plant. The aridity of the area along with very high summer temperatures suggested a solution with low water consumption but at the same time highly efficient.
Precisely for these needs, the adiabatic solution was considered more suitable compared to a classic closed circuit cooling tower. Therefore, 13 PAD type 12/6 85 C adiabatic coolers were installed.
In the colder seasons the machine works as a dry cooler. During summer, the air that passes through the finned batteries is cooled thanks to an adiabatic system: a special layer of flocked PVC humidified with short wetting cycles. The wetting and fan speed is automatically adjusted in order to continuously optimize consumption.
Other features of PAD coolers are:
- easy maintenance, thanks to wide access to internal parts;
- fiberglass construction, PVC and PP parts, therefore non-corroding and long lasting;
- automatic air bypass dampers (low pressure drops in dry mode).