GCOP TECHNOLOGY
Be the Power Behind your Assets
How GCOP Works
LCHWT Setpoint Reset
The GCOP optimizer controller is connected via Bacnet IP to the chiller control panel and resets the leaving chilled water temperature (LCHWT) setpoint in real time to an optimum value. To calculate this value, the GCOP starts learning the behavior of the chillers during different cool loads. The data used in this learning are: the ambient temperature, the entering chilled water temperature, the current leaving chilled water temperature setpoint, and the current chiller capacity. With this data, the control function is based on 4 basic components:
Outside Temperature
At a lower outside temperature, the setpoint can be increased and vice versa.
Current Cool Load
The cool load is proportional to the difference between the entering chilled water temperature and the leaving chilled water temperature setpoint. The setpoint value can be increased for lower cool load.
Current Capacity
This value is also proportional to the cool load and can define the magnitude of setpoint reset value.
Space Room Temperature
One or multiples space zone temperatures are monitored to limit the setpoint increased value.
Once evaluated the magnitude of the incidence of these four components on the setpoint, fuzzy logic is used to determine the center of mass and, with that result, get the best setpoint value for the current moment.
Unleash Your Potential
Chiller Lift Optimization with GCOP
One of the greatest sources of energy waste in chiller systems is excessive lift—defined as the difference between the temperature of the water exiting the condenser and the temperature of the chilled water supplied to the building. This temperature difference represents the effort the compressor must exert, and reducing it is key to achieving higher efficiency. GCOP (Global Chiller Optimization Platform) incorporates advanced algorithms to continuously minimize this lift, resulting in significant energy savings.
Smart Optimization Without Major Investment
Unlike traditional solutions that require costly system modeling, mechanical retrofits, or extensive control upgrades, GCOP delivers immediate results through intelligent software integration. Our reduce-lift strategy offers a low-cost implementation with high-impact performance, making it ideal for facilities looking to boost efficiency without overhauling existing infrastructure.
Chilled Water Reset for Greater Efficiency
Historically, chilled water was supplied at a fixed temperature, typically around 44°F. GCOP introduces a dynamic chilled water reset strategy, adjusting supply temperatures during part-load conditions. This simple adjustment reduces compressor workload by allowing the system to operate at higher chilled water temperatures when possible, without compromising comfort or performance.
Less Compressor Work, More Energy Savings
By increasing the chilled water temperature, GCOP raises the evaporator pressure within the refrigerant cycle. Since the compressor’s job is to elevate refrigerant pressure from the evaporator to the condenser, a higher starting pressure means less work, and less energy, is required. This reduction in compressor effort leads directly to lower energy consumption and extended equipment life.
EVALUATION MODE
How GCOP Measures Energy Savings
Since energy savings can vary for each chiller depending on factors like equipment efficiency, operational condition, and ambient environment, the GCOP Optimizer Controller includes a built-in Evaluation Mode to accurately measure performance.
In Evaluation Mode, the system alternates its optimization logic based on the calendar day:
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On even-numbered days, GCOP actively adjusts the leaving chilled water temperature (LCHWT) setpoint in real-time to optimize efficiency.
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On odd-numbered days, the optimization is disabled, and the LCHWT is fixed at 44°F, which is the standard baseline temperature.
Key performance data from the chillers is collected daily and securely stored in the cloud for analysis.
Objectives of Evaluation Mode
1. Accurately Measure Energy Savings
By comparing the chiller's average operating capacity on even days versus odd days, GCOP can determine the actual percentage of energy savings. Since chiller capacity is directly tied to energy usage, this method provides a reliable way to estimate savings for each unit.
2. Calculate a Capacity Reduction Factor
This factor is derived by analyzing the difference in average capacity between optimized and baseline days, along with how much the LCHWT was raised above the fixed 44°F on optimization days. In standard operation mode, this factor helps estimate real-time savings by referencing the chiller’s nominal tons and efficiency (tons/kW) as specified by the manufacturer.
Best Practices
To capture seasonal variations and ensure year-round accuracy, it's recommended to run Evaluation Mode at least three times per year.
Alternatively, for even more precise tracking, installing power meters on each chiller allows calculations to be made using actual kW consumption rather than estimated capacity.
Chilled Water Plant Optimization with GCOP
DLV Energy offers customized Chilled Water Plant AI solutions integrated with our proprietary GCOP (Global Chiller Optimization Platform), designed to meet the specific demands of high-energy consumers such as industrial facilities, shopping centers, commercial buildings, hospitals and laboratories, hotels and resorts, schools and universities, casinos and gaming rooms, and airports among others.
Our systems are engineered to enhance energy efficiency, drive sustainability, and reduce operational costs.
Backed by advanced technology and the expertise of our specialized team, we ensure that installation, operation, and maintenance are optimized to deliver maximum thermal performance and energy savings.
Our GCOP System
(Green Chiller Optimization Package)
has an Evaluation Mode that allows compare the savings obtained.
VERIFIED CASE STUDIES
These savings are continuously monitored, so our customers can ALWAYS see the savings in real time.
TELEVISA MEXICO: In Mexico City, Televisa Chapultepec has a GCOP control system that has been working for the last 20 years and has helped Televisa to keep the central rooms of the Channel in operation 24/7 during all these years, and to increase the chiller lifetime by more than 5%.
BAXTER COLOMBIA: Our products were used to develop an award-winning system to sequence and rotate chillers, as well as adjust flow controls to realize energy savings of more than 20% at the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Colombia. The client has been using our GCOP 24/7 for the past 10 years and was awarded a second place in energy efficiency by Andesco Colombia in 2016.
CINEMEX GROUP: The installation of the first pilot with RTU-SC technology was completed at Cinemex in October 2018. 11 RTU-SC controls were installed in its movie theaters in the San Pedro complex in Monterrey-Mexico and energy savings were up to 55%. As a result of the success story, Cinemex approved a large-scale deployment in its 365 cinemas in Mexico and the US for an amount of €20MM.
CARSO GROUP/SANBORNS: The installation of the first pilot with the RTU-SC technology was completed in Sanborns in June 2019. As a result of the energy savings of 39% with an estimated ROI of 3.12 years exceeded during the pilot test, an ambitious deployment order was authorized on a large scale nationwide with more than 145 stores in Mexico. From the readings obtained, the project will save 40,863 kWh per year.
CARSO GROUP/SANBORNS: Installation of the first pilot with GCOP technology was completed at Sanborns in June 2019. GCOP Pilot Verified Savings: 15%. Estimated ROI on the project would be: 3.05 years.
From the readings obtained, the project will save 153,884 kWh per year.
AV. DE AMERICA BUS INTERCHANGE IN MADRID: The installation of the first GCOP pilot at Av. de America Bus Interchange in Madrid, Spain was completed in March 2022. Based on energy savings of the first year, the return on investment in the project would be 15.8 months. This represents an ROI in three years of 265.7%, and an ROI of 465.7% in five years. The project is estimated to save 109,280 kWh per year.
LONDON REGIONAL PANAMA: We took over control of the chilled water supply temperature from the chillers by using our control algorithms to reduce the energy consumption needed to meet building demand without impacting the user.
In this case, the corporate offices in the regional buildings of London Regional in the International Business Park of Panama.
CALHOUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALABAMA: The installed GCOP showed that the chillers will work on average with 18% less capacity during the days that the system is active or running than without the GCOP activated, that is, as they are before being controlled by the GCOP (Green Chiller Optimizer Package).
METRO SERVICES GROUP IN LOS ANGELES: The installation of the first GCOP pilot at Metro Services Group in Los Angeles was proposed in September 2023. Based on the potential energy savings of 188,718 kWh/year, and the continuous engineering, monitoring and management of the installation, the return on investment for energy reduction allowed us to provide and install the GCOP without cost for Metro Services Group.
From base to the projected energy savings of $ 47,179.00 each year that will produce a direct amazing ROI of only 6.6 months.
PLAZA CARSO SHOPPING CENTER IN MEXICO CITY: GCOP installed at the iconic Plaza Carso Shopping Center in Mexico City, at a price of USD $28,000, based on estimated energy savings of MXN $1,935,877 during the first year. This project delivered an extraordinary Return on Investment (ROI) of just 3.5 months, representing an impressive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 347.4%, with Annual Energy Savings of 759,168 kWh.
