Chillers hook up

How does a chiller work?

A chiller uses a vapor compression mechanical refrigeration system that connects to the process water system through a device called an evaporator. Refrigerant circulates through an evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion device of a chiller. A thermodynamic process occurs in each of above components of a chiller.

What is an air-cooled water chiller?

An air-cooled chiller can represent the most practical choice in scenarios where water represents a scarce resource. A typical air-cooled chiller can feature propeller fans or mechanical refrigeration cycles to draw ambient air over a finned coil to condense the refrigerant.

What is a thermodynamic process in a chiller?

A thermodynamic process occurs in each of above components of a chiller. The evaporator functions as a heat exchanger such that heat captured by the process coolant flow transfers to the refrigerant.

What are the different types of condensers used in chillers?

Thus, chillers can use two different types of condensers, air-cooled and water-cooled. Air-cooled condensers resemble the “radiators” that cool automobile engines. They use a motorized blower to force air across a grid of refrigerant lines.

What is an industrial chiller and how does it work?

To put it simply, industrial chillers cool process fluids. Process fluids (typically water or a water/glycol mix) are used to cool machinery, equipment, food, etc. The process fluid absorbs heat from what is being cooled and then goes through the chiller where the heat is removed from the fluid and transferred to the ambient air.

How does a chiller fan work?

A fan then forces the cooled air into the space via the ductwork. The warmer water is then returned to the chiller to be cooled once again. In the meantime, the heat absorbed by the refrigerant (path shown in green) in the evaporator needs to be transferred to allow the refrigerant to absorb more heat.

What is the difference between a pump and a chiller?

In most cooling applications, a pumping system circulates cool water or a water/glycol solution from the chiller to the field units. This cool fluid removes heat from the field units and the warm fluid returns to the chiller. Chillers contain a chemical compound, called a refrigerant.

How does a refrigerant absorption chiller work?

In an absorption chiller, a generator uses steam or hot water to change the refrigerant into a vapor, which moves to the condenser where the vapor is sent back to the absorber. The refrigerant vapor is absorbed by a solution, which condenses into a vapor to release heat.

What are the different types of Chiller?

However, there is another way to distinguish chiller types: there are water-cooled chillers and air-cooled chillers. An absorption chiller is a water-cooled chiller, for example. Water-cooled chillers circulate condenser water through a cooling tower.

What are the different types of refrigerant condensers?

Three Main and Different Types of Condensers. 1 2.1. Double Tube. Double tube condensers have a tube of water inside a large refrigerant tube. The water absorbs most of the refrigerant heat, but as ... 2 2.2. Shell and Coil Condensers. 3 2.3. Shell and Tube Condensers.

What is the difference between air cooled and water cooled chiller?

While the components of both air-cooled and water-cooled chillers are mostly the same (condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and compressor), the main difference is in how the refrigerant is cooled.

What is the difference between a chiller and a compressor?

A compressor pushes a refrigerant round the inside of the chiller between the condenser, expansion valve, evaporator and back to the compressor. The only difference is that with an air cooled chiller, fans force air across the exposed tubes of the condenser which carry the heat away.