Chiller Air Conditioning – Chiller is the main component in the air conditioning system or HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) both in the commercial and industrial sectors because this tool expands the cooling capacity of the system. When you need to choose a chiller, you should know about the different types of chillers and how efficient they are.
Use of Chiller Air Conditioning System in Industry
This article will discuss the different types of chillers Air Conditioning system for commercial and industrial applications, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. The goal is to help you make the right decision in choosing the right type of chiller.
The Use of Chillers in the Industrial Sector
Chiller air conditioning systems are essential for temperature control and refrigeration in several industries. Choosing the right type of industrial chiller for process and space cooling can lower cooling costs and increase operational efficiency.
Different Types of Chiller
There are several types of chiller air conditioning out there which are definitely worth considering, as each type operates in a different way. Some coolers use a compressor, while others don’t. The various types of chillers referred to include:
1. Centrifugal Chillers
This type of chiller air conditioning is converts kinetic energy into static energy through a compression process. It attracts refrigerant or substance with its impeller blades, then brings it to a higher pressure level, and then rejects heat from the refrigerant. Well, a centrifugal chiller is a type of chiller that uses a mechanical compressor.
2. Absorption Chiller
This absorption chiller sends steam or hot water through the tube, the goal is to boil the refrigerant that will enter the condenser to turn into steam. The refrigerant returns to the absorber, which absorbs it into a lithium bromide solution and converts it back into refrigerant vapour. The absorber replaces the mechanical compressor, which is present in other types of chillers, such as centrifugal chillers. This type of absorption chiller consists of single-effect, dual-effect and direct-effect chillers.
3. Modular Chiller
Modular chillers are available in several types, including: centrifugal, screw and scroll. The different types determine how the chiller works with the refrigerant. However, the main difference between modular coolers and other types of coolers is the fact that you can pair two or more modular coolers together to expand the cooling capacity of your system. In this arrangement one or more modular coolers are under the main modular cooler, so that they all operate in harmony.
Industrial Chiller Air Conditioning Type
The main types of industrial chillers in use today are air-cooled chillers, water-cooled chillers, and evaporative condensing chillers. The three types of chillers have their own way of working, and of course advantages and disadvantages. Here’s the explanation:
Water Cooled Chiller
The most common type of water cooling chiller uses water from an external tower to cool the cooling gas in the condenser. After removing the heat, the refrigerant undergoes a phase change to a liquid and is recirculated into the system. This circulation process will occur continuously. The advantages and disadvantages are mentioned below.
Advantage:
- Water-cooled chillers are generally more efficient than air-cooled types
- Has quieter or less noise operation than air-cooled systems
- More suitable for small-scale and commercial-scale refrigeration
- Portable solutions are available for facilities with limited space.
Disadvantage:
- Water-cooled chillers are more expensive in terms of installation and maintenance because they require cooling water towers, tanks, and water pumps
- A constant supply of water is required for cooling, so it may not be suitable for locations with a shortage or limited water supply
- Water cooled systems require periodic condenser water treatment to prevent the formation of mineral deposits in the system.
Air Cooled Chiller
Air cooled chillers use ambient air to absorb heat from the refrigerant in the condenser prior to condensation and recirculation. In addition, generally a fan is also installed on the unit to help speed up the cooling process.
Please note that air cooled chillers are suitable for applications where heat dissipation will not be a problem, as they tend to increase the temperature at the operating site. The advantages and disadvantages of this type of chiller include:
Advantage:
- Portable type available for facilities with limited space
- Air cooled chillers are available for both small scale and commercial scale cooling depending on the size and capacity of the cooler
- It has lower costs for procurement and installation, and lower maintenance costs than water-cooled systems
- The heat released from the chiller can be used to warm the facility during cold periods, providing additional cost and power savings.
Disadvantage:
- The air-cooled cooler uses a cooling fan that produces several levels of noise
- The service life of the air-cooled chiller can be less than that of the water-cooled chiller.
Difference Between Air Conditioner And Water Cooler
Although the components of an air-cooled and water-cooled chiller are largely the same (condenser, expansion valve, compressor, and evaporator), the main difference is how the refrigerant is cooled.
The chiller types listed above differ in their setup and the way they cool the refrigerant to expand the cooling capacity of the HVAC system. The difference between the settings and the cooling process is as shown in the image below.
In an air cooled chiller, the hot refrigerant enters the condenser and through atmospheric air acts as a coolant (usually with the help of a cooling fan) before condensing back to its liquid state. This type is ideally used for small and medium scale HVAC installations located in limited space because it is more sensitive to the surrounding environment. Air cooled chillers have lower installation and maintenance costs than water cooled chillers.
On the other hand, in a water-cooled chiller, the hot refrigerant is sent to a heat exchanger or water-cooled condenser, and the refrigerant is cooled using water from the cooling tower. This type works well for medium and large scale HVAC installations as it is not affected by the ambient temperature fluctuations.
Chiller Classification Based on Operation Method
Industrial chillers can be further grouped as vapor compression or vapor absorption types based on the way the refrigerant is transported in the system.
Vapor compression chillers use an electrically actuated mechanical compressor to force refrigerant around the system. This is the most common type of cooler. There are two sub categories for vapor compression chillers namely water coolers or air coolers.
The vapor absorber cooler will use a heat source to move the refrigerant around the system using a mechanical compressor. The refrigerant in this chiller moves between areas of different temperature and pressure.
Looking at vapor compression chillers, the two main types are air-cooled and water-cooled. Both types of chillers have the same essential components, namely, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve. When we talk about air-cooled or water-cooled, it simply refers to the way in which unwanted heat is removed from the building through the cooling condenser.
The working principle for air-cooled and water-cooled chillers is the same. The compressor pushes the refrigerant around the inside of the chiller between the condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and returns to the compressor. The only difference is that with an air cooled chiller, the fan forces air across the open tubes of the condenser carrying the heat away. While the water cooled chiller has a closed condenser and water is pumped to remove the heat and spread it through the cooling tower. Cooling towers in water coolers also use fans to dissipate heat.
Industrial Chiller Air Conditioning System Use
Cooling systems using chillers are widely applied in various industrial sectors, be it small, medium, to large scale industries. Below are some of the most common applications:
1. Food Processing
Industrial chillers are used extensively in food production and processing operations that require a high degree of precision in temperature control. For example, wine processing to control temperature during fermentation and storage of wine. The bread cooler assists with cooling the mixer, cooling the drinking water, and jacketed yeast tanks that are in the bakery.
2. Injection Mold
Injection molding is a mass production technique for making plastic parts using injection molding machines, thermoplastic pellets, and moulds. Process and melt must be kept within proper temperature limits to prevent problems such as cracking, warping, and internal stresses in the final product. The injection mold cooler can supply a stream of supercooled liquid to cool the mold at the ideal rate to ensure optimal product quality.
3. Metal Finishing
Temperature control is very important in metal finishing processes such as electroplating or electroplating to remove excess heat because it usually requires very high temperatures (several hundred degrees) to bond the metal. Some industries use metal coolants to cool the anodizing liquid in heat exchangers or use glycol/water as a cooling medium to lower the temperature in the tank.
Well, that’s the review of the chiller that is commonly used in the industrial sector, which is quoted from various sources. Hopefully this article adds to your insight