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What is a chiller? What are its types?

Author: Ramesh Sharma
by Ramesh Sharma
Posted: Dec 09, 2021

For those who are not familiar with the term, let us begin by defining what a chiller is? Basically, it is a refrigerant system that comes of use for cooling down residential and commercial spaces, industrial operations, machines, and chemicals. It prevents overheating and helps in managing the temperature to keep things from ruining. An ideal chiller unit is cost-efficient, energy-conserving, and time-efficient. It ensures the proper functioning of tools and machinery.

What are the different types of chillers?

Mainly there are two different types of chillers. These are vapour compression and vapour absorption chillers. They vary from each other based on the agent used for moving the refrigerant around the system.

In the case of a vapour compression chiller, the system uses an electrically driven compressor to ensure the movement of refrigerant. In contrast, vapour absorption chillers utilize heat for moving the refrigerant around the system.

Between these two, vapour compression chillers are more common. These can be further sub-categorized into two, air-cooled chillers and water-cooled chillers. Let us understand how they work and the pros and cons of each type of chiller!

How are air-cooled chillers different from water-cooled chillers?

While both air-cooled chillers and water-cooled chillers have the almost same

mechanism, they differ from each other based on the method used for ejecting the heat.

Air-cooled Chillers

In air-cooled chillers, the air is used for getting rid of the heat. It is forced across the exposed tubes of the condenser by using fans. These chillers are easy to install and can be conveniently put up outside the building. Compared

to water-cooled chillers, they require more energy and are excellent for stationery cooling. But, these types of chillers are also vulnerable to blockages and recirculation issues that works to their disadvantage.

Water-cooled chillers

As you might have already guessed, water-cooled chillers use water for ejecting the heat. They remove it by pushing water through a sealed condenser and by distributing it through a cooling tower. This type of chiller is generally more efficient than the air-cooled chillers because utilizing water for vanishing heat does not require as much energy as blowing air across the surface. Also, water-cooled chillers last longer when compared to air-cooled chillers, making them a better option.

How do air and water-cooled chillers work?

Air and water cooled chillers feature the same components, namely compressor, condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve. Also, they work on almost the same mechanics as they use the compressor to push the refrigerant around the chiller system through the condenser, evaporator, expansion valve and back to the compressor. So, the compressors help in cooling down machines and devices for ensuring smooth functioning. They can be categorized into vapour compression and vapour absorption chillers, each of which has its own use.

About the Author

I'm Rakesh Sharma, being alone at home and doing household work on my own, I got very much interested in Home Entertainment.chiller,standing ac, and central ac

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Author: Ramesh Sharma

Ramesh Sharma

Member since: Dec 16, 2020
Published articles: 28

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