Types of Chiller

A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-

compression or absorption refrigeration cycle. This liquid can then be
circulated through a heat exchanger to cool air or equipment as required.
Chiller is a compressor based equipment that cools and controls the
temperature of a liquid unlike the air conditioners, which cools the air.
Types of Chiller
• On the basis of their functioning
1.Air-cooled Chiller
2.Water-cooled Chiller
• On the basis of driving force for refrigeration
1.Mechanical Compressor Chiller
2.Absorption Chiller
Air-cooled Chiller
Air-cooled chillers Absorb heat from process water and are transferred to the
ambient air. They are mostly used in applications where the heat discharged is
not a factor. They don’t need a cooling tower and condenser water pump. The
maintenance of air-cooled chillers is less than water-cooled units. However,
they consume 10% more power.
Water Cooled Chiller
Heat is absorbed from process water and is transferred to a separate water
source like a river, pond, cooling tower, etc. Water-cooled chiller Mainly used
at the places where the heat generated by air-cooled chillers poses a problem.
Due to their less consumption of power they are usually preferred by those
seeking optimum efficiency of power consumption. Water condensing units
are more efficient than air condensed, often operating in the range of 15 EER
or better (EER: energy efficiency ratio or BTU per hour per Watt energy
consumption). Water-cooled chillers require a source of cooling water, such as
cooling tower water, to extract heat from the refrigerant at the condenser and
reject it to the ambient environment. The typical condensing temperature in a
water-condensed chiller is 105°F.
Mechanical Compressor Chiller
At the heart of any chiller is the compressor. Compressors are used to
increase the pressure of the refrigerant.
They are classified by the compressor type:
• Reciprocating
• Rotary screw
• Scroll
• Centrifugal
Mechanical Compressor Chiller
Reciprocating
Similar to a car engine with multiple pistons, a crankshaft is turned by an
electric motor, the pistons compress the gas, heating it in the process. The hot
gas is discharged to the condenser instead of being exhausted out of a tailpipe.
The pistons have intake and exhaust valves that can be opened on demand to
allow the piston to idle, which reduces the chiller capacity as the demand for
chilled water is reduced. This unloading allows a single compressor to provide
a range of capacities to better match the system load. Capacities range from
20 to 125 tons.
Scroll
Suitable for low capacity
Low size and low noise
15 tons.
Rotary Screw
The screw or helical compressor has two mating helically grooved rotors in a
stationary housing. As the helical rotors rotate, the gas is compressed by
direct volume reduction between the two rotors. Capacity is controlled by a
sliding inlet valve or variable-speed drive (VSD) on the motor. Capacities
range from 20 to 450 tons.
Centrifugal
The centrifugal compressor operates much like a centrifugal water pump,
with an impeller compressing the refrigerant. Centrifugal chillers provide high
cooling capacity with a compact design. They can be equipped with both inlet
vanes and variable-speed drives to regulate control chilled water capacity
control. Capacities are 150 tons and up.
Absorption Chiller
The absorption cycle uses a heat-driven concentration difference to move
refrigerant vapors (usually water) from the evaporator to the condenser. The
high concentration side of the cycle absorbs refrigerant vapors (which, of
course, dilutes that material). Heat is then used to drive off these refrigerant
vapors thereby increasing the concentration again. Lithium bromide is the
most common absorbent used in commercial cooling equipment, with water
used as the refrigerant. Smaller absorption chillers sometimes use water as
the absorbent and ammonia as the refrigerant. The absorbent is the material
that is used to maintain the concentration difference in the machine. Most
commercial absorption chillers use lithium bromide. Lithium bromide has a
very high affinity for water, is relatively inexpensive and non-toxic.
Absorption chillers are available in two types:
Single Effect (Stage) Units: using low pressure (20 psig or less) as the driving
force
Double Effect (2-Stage) Units: available as gas-fired (either direct gas firing or
hot exhaust gas from a gas-turbine or engine) or steam-driven with high-
pressure steam (40 to 140 psig).
Water cooled chiller
Scroll chiller
Rotary Screw
Centrifugal
Reciprocating