The air cooled chiller is a system of refrigeration. It uses air instead of water to cool a heat exchange system. The air cooled water chiller is an energy-efficient system that is used in many applications. It is often used in green buildings to reduce energy consumption.
Air cooled water chillers are a type of chiller that uses the natural cooling power of the air to bring water down to a desired temperature. They are often used in situations where the electricity supply is unreliable, such as on remote offshore oil and gas platforms. This means that they have the advantage of being unaffected by power outages or surges. They can also be used where the cost of electricity is high, or where the supply is limited, such as in remote locations or in areas where the grid is overcrowded.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
Air cooled chillers actively soak up heat from process water; after that they simply transfer the same heat into the air around the chiller unit. This type of unit is typically used in areas where additional heat discharge is not an issue at all, but it works as a benefit.
Now exactly what happens- cycle starts with the evaporator/heat exchanger. This Evaporator has a liquid refrigerant that runs over the evaporator tube bundle. Now in this process, heat is soaked from the chilled water which is circulating through the evaporator tube bundle. Now the work of the compressor began, and it pulls the refrigerant vapor from the evaporator. The compressor is then assigned with pumping the refrigerant vapor to the condenser, which increases temperature and pressure, and refrigerant condenses when it’s in the condenser tubes only, freeing its internal heat to the external air. The high-pressure liquid then moves through the expansion device and enter into the evaporator; in this process the refrigerant pressure is decreased along with the temperature. To finish the continuous cycle, the refrigerant rush back over the chilled water coils and suck up more heat.
MAJOR COMPONENTS
An air-cooled chiller system’s basic components include the chiller itself, which is the part of the system that receives and cools the refrigerant. A typical chiller system includes the following major components:
- Compressor– It provides the driving force for moving the refrigerant. It is fixed between the evaporator and the condenser. It has an electric motor as the driving force, which is either mounted outside or laid internally. Basically, it is the heart of the air-cooled chiller.
- Condenser– A condenser is placed close to the expansion valve and compressor. The main task of the condenser is to remove the heat from the refrigerant that is picked up in the evaporator. Condensers are of two types, i.e., air-cooled condensers and water-cooled condensers.
- Condenser Fans– these fans show the basic difference between air cooled chiller and the water-cooled chiller. As and when they move air across the condenser, unwanted heat is removed in the system and released in the open air.
- Expansion Valve- The expansion valve expands the refrigerant and enlarge its volume, which allows the refrigerant to pick up heat in the evaporator. There are different types of expansion valves, but the most common and important type is the thermal expansion valve which is pilot operated.
- Evaporator– An evaporator is used to pick up heat from the building and throw it to the refrigerant so that it can be sent to the cooling tower. An evaporator is laid between the compressor and the expansion valve. when the heat is extracted, the water became cool. Now this chilled water is sent throughout the building for the purpose of air conditioning.
TYPES OF AIR COOLED WATER CHILLER
The Air cooled water chiller is further divided into two types which are-
- Stationary air cooled chiller – When excess heat is not an issue, Stationary air-cooled chillers are used.
- Portable air cooled chiller – These chillers are functional as stationary chiller and are portable in nature. This is the only difference between both air-cooled chillers.
Key Features Of Chiller (Air & Water)
- Energy Efficient Air/Water Cooled Compact Chillers suitable for working in high ambient 55°C condition.
- User Friendly Micro Process PLC base controller, which digital indication, function and fault details.
- Display of set value and actual leaving water temperature on screen.
- Display of Entering water temperature and Evaporator outlet temperature.
- Inbuilt Anti-freezing safety in control to safe guard evaporator.
- Three-phase monitoring device protects against unit damage due to phase reversal or loss of phase.
- Nominal power at +10°C water temperature and ambient temperature of +55°C.
- We have designed special ‘V’ type condenser according to Indian ambient 55°C temperature.
- Proven component supplier like compressor from Danfoss, Pump from Grundfoss/Lowara, Flow switch from Honeywell, Evaporator is from GEA/Swep and Axial Flow Fan.
- Excellent cooling performance of upto 790kw (225 TR) at 10°C ambient tempeature.
- Suitable for Installation Inside & Outside.
- Plate Heat Exchanger for highly efficient cooling performance.
- Terminal for external temperature sensor PT100.
APPLICATION :
They are used in a variety of applications, most commonly for residential and commercial building cooling. They’re often considered a great cooling option for smaller buildings because they tend to be more affordable and more versatile than traditional chiller systems. They are also sometimes referred to as “direct” or “open” chiller systems. The defining feature of this system is that it doesn’t use a closed or indirect cooling loop like traditional chillers, which means they don’t require complex cooling water and piping systems, and they’re often more flexible and easier to install than other chiller systems.