Plant Utilities worked example

Chiller Utilization at 86% target chiller utilization: a worked example

What does the result look like when target chiller utilization reaches 86%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when reviewing chiller utilization for a utility budget, maintenance priority, capacity check, energy project, or production support plan.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Average chiller load: 620 tons (unchanged)
  • Installed chiller capacity: 900 tons (unchanged)
  • Target chiller utilization: 86 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 75)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Chiller Utilization = average chiller load ÷ available chiller capacity × 100) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 68.89 % for chiller utilization rate, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 17.11 points for gap to target.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 620 value for measured load or hours.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 900 value for available capacity or hours.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target chiller utilization sits at 75% and the headline result is 68.89 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 68.89 %.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when target chiller utilization is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It uses an average load, so it hides peak demand and short-cycling; a plant at 69% average utilization can still hit 100% on the hottest afternoon.

Results at a glance

  • Chiller Utilization rate: 68.89 % (headline result)
  • Gap to target: 17.11 points
  • Measured load or hours: 620 value
  • Available capacity or hours: 900 value

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Chiller Utilization calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.