Chiller

Air-Cooled Compression Chiller

The main feature of an air-cooled compression chiller is the use of an air-cooled condenser. In this system, the fans installed in the condenser pass ambient air through the coils, cooling the refrigerant inside the tubes. The cooled refrigerant then passes through the expansion valve and enters the evaporator, where it absorbs heat from the circulating water in the cooling system, and the chilled water returns to the cooling units. Next, the refrigerant passes through the compressor, where it becomes high-pressure and high-temperature, and is then directed back to the condenser. This completes the refrigeration cycle.

Since air-cooled chillers use airflow to cool the refrigerant, they are the best option for areas where water supply or the use of cooling towers is limited. It should be noted that the water in the cooling units and terminals operates in a closed-loop system and does not require replacement.

Water-Cooled Compression Chiller

In water-cooled compression chillers, the refrigerant heat is absorbed by the water inside the shell-and-tube condenser. The cooled refrigerant then passes through the expansion valve and enters the evaporator. Inside the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the circulating water in the cooling units, and the chilled water returns to the system. Next, the refrigerant passes through the compressor, where it becomes high-pressure and high-temperature, and is directed back to the condenser. This completes the refrigeration cycle.

The water used to cool the refrigerant in the condenser is transferred to the cooling tower, where it releases heat to the ambient air. Since water-cooled chillers use cooling towers, they consume both electricity and water. A portion of the circulating water evaporates in the cooling tower and leaves the system, requiring a make-up water supply. It should be noted that the efficiency of water-cooled chillers decreases significantly in humid climates due to the evaporative cooling process of the cooling tower, and their use is not recommended in such areas.