Systems and methods for reducing energy consumption of a chilled water distribution system

At least one computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed by at least one processing device, enable the at least one processing device to perform a method for controlling a chilled water distribution system, the method comprising:

• determining a real-time chiller plant load at a selected location within a chilled water loop of the distribution system;
• monitoring a real-time pump speed of a base chiller station that includes a variable frequency drive coupled to a chilled water pump;
• determining an energy load for a plurality of buildings served by the chilled water loop;
• modulating a pump speed of the base chiller station to stay within a desired range of a pre-determined set point chiller plant load of the chilled water loop;
• and
• determining whether to change a capacity of the distribution system by bringing a chiller of another chiller station either online or offline.

A system comprising:

• at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of instructions or data;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions or data cause the at least one processor to:
• determine a real-time chiller plant load at a selected location within a chilled water loop of a distribution system;
• monitor a real-time pump speed of a base chiller station that includes a variable frequency drive coupled to a chilled water pump;
• determine an energy load for a plurality of buildings served by the chilled water loop;
• modulate a pump speed of the base chiller station to stay within a desired range of a pre-determined set point chiller plant load of the chilled water loop;
• and
• determine whether to change a capacity of the distribution system by bringing a chiller of another chiller station either online or offline.