Dry-coolers on DX water cooled

[KiwiMace]

In SoCal, a warm, dry climate region where 90degF or 100degF (32 - 38degC) days are frequent, would you recommend using dry coolers on water cooled dx air-conditioners or heat pumps?
The question is really, will the indoor units run acceptably well enough with 95 to 105deg water - in terms of performance not efficiency in this scenario.

I have recently recommended against this, but I am hearing stories of this being done and not too many problems as a result. I have talked to the vendor and got a non committal yes, but just wondering what this crowd thinks.

 

[hollandhvac]

Have had a design myself in Holland (europe) where we upgraded a system with dry coolers from 28 degrees C to 36 Degrees C ( cause, gobal warming ). I know the outdoor conditons are most of the time not as high as in SoCal, but they can reach these temperatures in a good summer, and the system needed to work 24/7 ( it is internet ).
So my opinion would be that it is possible.

 

[KiwiMace]

Thanks for the response. I think I will offer the option, but cage it in potential risk during design day operation. It will be suggested as a backup to a cooling tower anyway.

 

[hollandhvac]

Using a cooling tower was one of our options as well, but we did go for the dry coolers.
What kind of potential risk are you expecting?

 

[KiwiMace]

This is a Tier 2 data center, currently operating with no redundant heat rejection. The CT is only 2 years old, but not getting a lot of maintenance in a 24/7/365 operation.

 

[hollandhvac]

This is not in agrement with Tier 2. It needs to have redundant capacity components.

 

[KiwiMace]

Yes, I mean trying to be Tier 2.

 

[RossABQ]

If water is available and relatively decent quality, you could consider one of the hybrid dry coolers that spray water on the outside of the tubes to meet high ambient conditions. The real downside to dry coolers is the real estate needed on a tons/sf basis. (Well, that and cost/ton)