Air-cooled chiller Vs Water-cooled chiller
INTRODUCTION ❏ A chiller system is one of the main components of district cooling systems for commercial buildings and industrial buildings. ❏ Chiller systems are used as part of big industrial processes to help them monitor or regulate temperatures so that the excessive heat produced does not damage sensitive equipment.
Water-cooled chiller Water-cooled chillers are made of the following components: ● Make-up water tanks ● Chillers ● Cooling towers ● Condenser water pumps ● TES reservoirs
❏ The water-cooled chillers make use of the high heat capacity of water to facilitate refrigerant chilling.
❏ Water and chiller glycol are the two coolants used here. ❏ This is circulated in a sealed network of tubing. ❏ The heat exchanger helps in passing the chilled refigerant. ❏ The warmed coolant then returns to the cooling tower eliminating heat in the process.
Benefits ❏ They have a small size ❏ They have high efficiency and last longer(20-30 years) ❏ Chilled water services need minimal ventilation as their cooling towers can be placed on the exterior of the building ❏ They offer a high cooling capacity of 10-4000 tons ❏ Industrial areas with high thermal outputs can benefit from water-cooled chillers
Air-cooled chillers ❏ These chillers are equipped with condensers that reduce the refrigerant temperature by utilizing the ambient air.
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The tube containing the refrigerant eliminates heat with the help of fans that force air over the tube.
❏ The cooled refrigerant is then circulated through the industrial process to achieve the cooling effect.
Benefits ●
They do not have a high maintenance cost
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Locations with poor water supply will suffer if they use water-cooled chillers.
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They can be used in outdoor locations
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Regulations on effluent are an important factor to keep in mind while deciding which type of chiller to use.
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Air-cooled chillers provide an advantage here as waste materials can be released into the environment without any concern.
Alternative Solution ❏ Hybrid chillers are the alternative option available for water and air-cooled chillers. ❏ Depending on the condition, they can operate as water-cooled chillers or air-cooled chillers. ❏ These chillers are suitable for areas with a dry climate or low water availability. ❏ Based on the above, you can decide which type of cooling solution you want to use as part of the DCS.