How Do Air Cooled Chiller Systems Work?

An air cooled chiller is a cooling system that uses air as the cooling medium instead of water. Chiller systems are commonly used in commercial and industrial settings to provide cooling for large buildings, data centers, and manufacturing processes. They are often preferred over water-cooled chillers because they require less maintenance and do not require a constant supply of water.

Read on to learn more about how air cooled chillers operate and their different components and uses.

How Does an Air Cooled Chiller Operate?

1. Air cooled chillers draw in ambient hot air from the surrounding environment and pass it over a heat exchanger, a series of coils containing refrigerants.
2. As the air passes over the coils, it transfers its heat to the refrigerant, evaporating and absorbing the heat.
3. The cooled air is then released back into the environment, while the hot refrigerant is pumped to a condenser, where it is cooled and condensed back into a liquid.
4. The cooled refrigerant is then circulated back through the system to absorb more heat.

Because the heat is blown outside of the chiller, it is ideal to place the air cooled chiller outdoors or in a large indoor location that will not be affected by the excess heat.

What are the Parts of an Air Cooled Chiller?

The primary components of an air cooled chiller include the refrigerant gas, compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion valve.

• Refrigerant gas is a substance that absorbs and releases heat to provide cooling.
• The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas and pumps it through the air system.
• The condenser is where the refrigerant releases heat to the surrounding air.
• The evaporator is where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the chilled water.
• The expansion valve regulates the flow of refrigerant through the system.

All of these parts work together to create a cycle that provides efficient and effective cooling for various applications.

Types of Air Cooled Chillers

There are two main types of air cooled chillers: packaged air cooled chillers and modular air cooled chillers. Packaged air cooled chillers are self-contained units that include all the necessary components, such as the compressor, condenser, and evaporator, in a single package. They are easy to install and maintain, making them popular for small to medium-sized applications. On the other hand, modular air cooled chillers consist of multiple units that can be combined to create a much larger cooling system. As a result, they offer greater flexibility and scalability, making them ideal for larger applications that require more cooling. Both types of air cooled chillers have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on the specific needs of the application.

Industrial Air Cooled Chillers

An industrial air-cooled chiller is a refrigeration system that cools fluids and works in tandem with a facility's air handler system. Because an industrial chiller works on a continuous cycle, the resulting low-pressure liquid is then transferred back to the evaporator, where the whole cycle will repeat itself. Industrial chillers are often used in large buildings such as hotels, indoor malls, hospitals, and large industrial buildings, as well as locations with multiple facilities requiring cooling, such as outdoor malls and theme parks. Portable air-cooled chillers can also be used for large events or emergency situations.

Sunbelt Rentals has a fleet of portable, air-cooled chiller rentals ranging in size from 15 tons to 500 tons. Sunbelt Rentals chiller rentals are trailer mounted, making delivery and set up quick and efficient.

If you ever find your air-cooled chiller down for repair or need to rent an air-cooled chiller, the experts at Sunbelt Rentals can help you choose the right chiller for the job.

Request a quote today.