Industrial Water Chiller: Operations and Types

 

Chiller is an installation that is the central node of the refrigeration system. The main purpose is the industrial cooling of circulating liquids. Most often, the coolant is water, but antifreeze, which includes water and ethylene glycol, can also be used. The equipment is used in centralized air conditioning systems in various industries- food, pharmaceuticals, slaughterhouses, and poultry farms- for cooling industrial and special process equipment. If you are looking for a water chiller for any of these areas of industries, rely on Colt Group, one of the top Water Chillers Manufacturers. The Colt group's expertise in process cooling applications has led to the development of this family of industrial chillers capable of meeting a wide range of operating limits (both user and environment) required by new energy-saving technologies.

Operating principle

The working principle of the cooler is based on a continuous process of changing the state of aggregation of substances from liquid to vapour and vice versa in a closed circuit. It circulates a coolant with a low boiling point. The circuit consists of two heat exchangers. One is the evaporator, which creates a low pressure inside that causes the liquid to boil and vaporize, absorbing heat from the surroundings (the water to be cooled). The superheated vapour refrigerant leaves the evaporator and enters another heat exchanger, the condenser, where it is compressed. Conditions are thus created for the coolant to condense or change into the liquid phase. The liquid then enters the expansion valve, where the pressure drops again, and then the liquid mixture and vapor enter the evaporator. This process is repeated once more.

Types of chillers

Depending on the medium through which heat is removed from the condenser, air-cooled and water-cooled chillers are distinguished. The design is also important. This is a monoblock chiller if the evaporator is placed in the same unit as the condenser. The second type is two-block refrigeration units. In them, the condenser is remote and can be located at a sufficient distance from the evaporator.

Chillers with air cooling of the condenser (monoblock)

Refrigerators of this type are located indoors. The supply and exhaust air for cooling the condenser is carried out through air ducts. The main advantages of monoblock chillers are the absence of outdoor units and the possibility of all-weather operation. In addition, the execution on a single frame increases the reliability of the design. The main disadvantages are the need for additional space to accommodate the unit.

Chillers with remote air-cooled condensers (two-block)

Units of this type are installed outdoors, outdoors. The condenser is cooled by axial fans. Chillers of this design are used if overheating of the air by the heat removed from the condenser is possible. The advantages of the installations are that unused sites can be used, and there are no problems with noise. Cons - maintenance of the evaporator is required, and seasonal draining of water is necessary. Sometimes double-circuit schemes are used, in which non-freezing liquids are used as an intermediate coolant.

Water cooled chillers

Equipment is installed indoors. To cool the condenser, a closed circuit device is used with intermediate coolant cooling in the cooling tower. The main advantages are all-season operation and efficiency due to condensation heat recovery.

Features of choice

When choosing a chiller, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the facility where the installation is supposed to be located, namely the climate of the region, the cost of electricity and natural gas, the possibility of installing indoor and outdoor equipment, the requirements for chilled liquid indicators, the possibility of using cooling towers, the desired payback period, etc. The service life system is around 30 years; its operation is more expensive than the purchase. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the availability of technical support, and service, the acceptability of its prices, and the period when the installation can work without replacing expensive components. Are you also looking for air compressors for your business? Look for the Screw Air Compressor Manufacturers in India!