Introduction: The Foundation for Intelligence
A Chiller Plant Optimiser isn't a magic wand — but with the right foundation, it delivers magic.
DeJoule's CPO can transform your plant into a high-performing, continuously optimised asset, but only if your building is equipped to let it do its job. This blog walks you through the key prerequisites for a successful CPO deployment, so you know exactly where you stand before you get started.
Why Prerequisites Matter
Chiller Plant Optimisation is more than automation — it's about enabling your plant to respond dynamically to real-time load conditions. To do that, the optimiser needs clean, reliable data and controllable assets for optimal chiller loading.
Without these enablers in place, the system can't modulate equipment speeds, fine-tune setpoints, or deliver the promised energy savings in cooling systems. A quick readiness check today prevents disappointment later and ensures your HVAC energy efficiency goals are met.
The CPO-Readiness Checklist
1. Functional BMS & CPM
Your Building Management System (BMS) and Central Plant Manager (CPM) are the backbone of plant control. They provide the data points and command pathways that the optimiser uses to make decisions for building automation. A functional BMS/CPM ensures smooth integration and seamless control handover, enabling effective central plant management and monitoring.
2. VFDs on Chillers, Pumps, and Towers
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are non-negotiable for part-load operation. Without them, equipment can only run at fixed speeds, leaving no room for the optimiser to modulate load and extract energy savings with variable speed drives.
Installing or retrofitting VFDs is one of the most impactful steps you can take to prepare your plant for HVAC motor control optimization. VFDs in HVAC systems provide precise control over chiller pumps, cooling tower fans, and compressor efficiency, enabling your equipment to operate efficiently across varying load conditions.
3. Accurate, Calibrated Sensors
CPO decisions are only as good as the data it receives. Sensors for temperature, pressure, flow, and power must be correctly calibrated and regularly maintained for accurate HVAC sensor calibration. Garbage data leads to suboptimal decisions — or worse, incorrect control actions in your cooling plant optimization strategy.
Regular sensor calibration in building systems ensures the optimiser receives reliable performance data to maximize chiller efficiency and cooling tower performance.
4. Part-Load Friendly System Design
Your plant must be designed to handle a wide range of loads efficiently for optimal part load operation. That means having buffer capacity in chillers, pumps, and cooling towers so that the optimiser can sequence assets flexibly for efficient chiller loading. Plants sized too tightly for peak load often struggle to operate efficiently at partial loads, impacting overall chiller performance optimization.
A well-designed system enables effective load distribution and chiller sequencing strategies that maximize energy conservation in cooling systems.
5. Reliable Connectivity
While DeJoule's CPO can run on edge intelligence even without the cloud, stable connectivity ensures remote monitoring, OTA (over-the-air) software updates, and continuous machine learning improvements for smart building optimization. A basic network audit can confirm readiness and support advanced building energy management capabilities.
Closing the Gaps
If your building doesn't tick every box on the readiness checklist for chiller plant optimization, that doesn't mean you miss out on intelligent optimization. DeJoule's team takes care of the entire process end-to-end for complete HVAC system optimization.
Where needed, we install VFDs on chillers, pumps, and cooling towers for improved variable frequency drive applications, calibrate or replace sensors for accurate data collection and monitoring, and upgrade or even fully replace your existing BMS/CPM if it's outdated or defunct with modern building automation systems.
And if your plant already has everything in place? Perfect — we simply deploy the Chiller Plant Optimizer on top of your existing setup and get it running at peak efficiency from Day 1, delivering immediate energy savings in HVAC.
How DeJoule Makes It Simple
Think of this as a single-window solution for plant performance and operational efficiency:
Assessment → Upgrades (if required) → Optimization
You don't have to manage multiple vendors or coordinate separate upgrades for your cooling tower energy efficiency projects. We handle the entire journey so you can focus on operations while we deliver measurable savings through industrial energy efficiency improvements and plant optimization strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the minimum requirements to install a Chiller Plant Optimiser?
A functional BMS and CPM for building management and control, VFDs on major equipment for variable speed operation, calibrated sensors for accurate performance monitoring, and a system capable of part-load operation for flexible chiller efficiency are the key prerequisites. These ensure that the optimiser has both the data and the controllability to function as intended for maximum HVAC energy savings.
Q2: Can DeJoule work with my existing BMS or CPM?
Yes. DeJoule is designed to integrate with most existing BMS and CPM systems via standard open protocols (BACnet, Modbus) for seamless building automation integration. If your current system is outdated or defunct, DeJoule can also replace it with a modern full-stack BMS that supports advanced chiller control systems and central plant optimization.
Q3: What if my building doesn't have VFDs or has calibration issues?
No problem — DeJoule offers an end-to-end readiness service for complete HVAC retrofit solutions, installing VFDs where needed for pump optimization and fan control, recalibrating sensors for precision HVAC measurements, and upgrading control infrastructure before deploying the optimiser for optimal cooling system performance.
Whether your plant needs upgrades or just the intelligence layer for energy-efficient cooling, we've got you covered.