Auxiliary Cooler, Berlin

As a heat-driven power plant, the Mitte Combined Heat and Power Plant cannot fully utilize the potential of combined heat and power (CHP) during the summer months because the load falls below the minimum technical threshold. To address this, a dry-air cooler (water-to-air heat exchanger) equipped with fans is being installed in the open area between the old power plant unit and the combined-cycle unit. It works similarly to a car radiator. Fans force ambient air through closely spaced pipe bundles, cooling the water flowing inside them. For noise reduction purposes, the fans are operated at variable speeds as needed using frequency converters. The cooling modules are located at a height of approximately 21 m and are supported by a steel framework. The dry-air cooler is not operated in winter; the piping system is drained into the heating network. Access to the structure is restricted to inspection, cleaning, and maintenance purposes only. Maintenance and repairs of the fans are carried out from the asphalt-paved area below the facility using a lift truck.
The design emphasizes the technical requirements of the structure and integrates it into an overall architectural concept.