Air Cooled Chiller Plant: An Overview
The air cooled chiller plant is an integral component of any industrial cooling plant since it consumes atmospheric air to dissipate heat. This type of cooler finds extremely effective for a wide range of applications. These work in a continuous refrigeration cycle; the high-pressure refrigerant passes through the expansion valve and then enters the evaporator, where it gets transformed from a high-pressure liquid to a low-pressure liquid, thereby cooling the surrounding environment.
Difference from Water Cooled Chillers
The major distinction between the two is that, whereas water-cooled chillers remove heat through cooling towers and pumps, air cooled chillers use fans to pass air over the condenser. This basic difference allows the air cooled models to be designed in a more compact form with lower initial costs and maintenance. They have an advantage in scarcity areas where water is scarce, hence this chiller type suits industries which require a good cooling solution effectively.
Criteria for Selecting Air-Cooled Chiller Plant
The following are some of the considerations when selecting an air cooled chiller plant:
Cooling Capacity:
The minimum cooling capacity desired in the application and for the environment.
Environmental Conditions:
Air-cooled chillers work best in those environments where temperature variations are generally high; increasing ambient temperature degrades the performance at high altitude conditions.
Noise Levels:
For noise-sensitive environments, select models that will have noise levels of less than 75 dBA at 5 meters.
Applications and Advantages of Air-Cooled Chiller Plants
Air cooled chiller plants are extensively used in food processing, pharmaceutical companies, and in power generation where the temperature aspect becomes a significant requirement within the process. They allow for healthy and longer life of equipment, since optimum working temperatures ensure smooth operation and efficiency within those systems. Simple installation process and lesser intricacy about the components lead to cost effectiveness and easy maintenance providing a more attractive solution to numerous enterprises. Comparatively, air cooled chillers provide benefits in terms of easy integration and reduced operating expenses but may present some environmental exposure issues and possibly noise generation issues. However, their ability to provide effective cooling without requiring water resources makes them a vital part of current industrial applications.
What is an Air-Cooled Chiller Plant? What are Its key Features?
A blog on the various features of an air cooled chiller plant, properties, and benefits of these industries is considered in this blog. First, though, there is a need for understanding of what a chilling plant is.
What Is a Chilling Plant?
A chiller, an apparatus for circulating cooling water, is a mechanized technology-driven device designed to regulate temperature by circulating a liquid, normally water. This water serves as a heat medium, acting as a cooling liquid, with its temperature in balance and adjusted by the refrigerant cycle.
Objective & Purpose
The main application of a chiller is to hold the temperature of different industrial equipment, laboratory equipment, and machinery at a fixed level. It is also applied for air-conditioned buildings, corporate towers, companies, and factories.
Why is It Called a Chilling Plant?
The machine is called a "chiller" because it performs the role of cooling.
Classification of Chillers
Chillers fall into different types:
Air-Cooled Chiller
Water-Cooled Chiller
Liquid Chiller
Brine Chiller
AHU Chiller Plant
Screw Chiller
Now that we've introduced the topic of air-cooled chiller plants, let's take a closer look.
Principles of the Air-Cooled Chiller Plant
Industrial air-cooled chillers are refrigeration equipment that cool a liquid in tandem with an industrial facility's air handler system. An industrial air-cooled chiller is made up of the following four fundamental components:
Evaporator
Compressor
Condenser
Expansion Valve
How the Air Cooled Chiller Plant Works?
The air-cooled chiller plant carries out its functions by absorbing heat
from processed water. This machine sends air to the heat exchanger, which it imparts cooling
to the refrigerant. This is a fully automatic system with classy inbuilt monitoring and
quality control systems that ensure efficient chilling through plate-type and shell-and-tube
evaporators. A single dual compressor further enables power savings.
Since these models are compact and portable, businesses can opt for particular models
according to their industrial needs.
Features of Air-Cooled Chillers
High Quality Components
It is durable and reliable in nature. Operation with huge temperature ranges between +10°C to -30°C. Factory built and tested for quality before use. Different energy efficacious single and multi-compressor selections can be made.
Control Panel
It is microprocessor-based; therefore usage is hassle-free. It has fully automatic control with provisions to enhance operational efficiency.
Rapid Cooling Capacity
Double-effect, by plate-type and shell-and-tube evaporators.
Solid and Dependable
Designed to be trouble-free.
CFC-Free Process
Environmentally friendly design.
Air-Cooled Chillers Advantages
The primary use of air-cooled chillers is for applications where aesthetics and environmental conditions or water access restrictions are an issue. The contrast between the use of a moist air stream used with water-cooled chillers and direct ambient air in air-cooled chillers, used to transfer the heat, gives rise to the following advantages:
No Cooling Towers Required
Installation is easy and can also reduce space.
Better Environmental Stability
No water wastage, hence it turns out to be a very sustainable solution.
Less Costs of Upkeep
Simplicity indeed cuts down on upkeep costs.
Easy to Use and Manage
No problems related to freezing of the tower and bypass.
No Requirement of Chemicals
No need for treatment chemicals associated with water systems.
No Water Expenses
Especially beneficial in areas where the cost of water is high or scarcity is a concern.
Disaster Resilience
No issues related to water management during emergencies.
Conclusion
The growing requirements in the market for an eco-friendly design make the air-cooled chiller plant a prime investment for various applications. Their increasing efficiency and reliability in part-load conditions add to their worth, even more so in water-scarce regions.
Let's Join Hands
Join hands with Aarkays Air Equipment Pvt. Ltd., a trusted name in air equipment manufacturing since 1979. Our offerings, including Air Handling Units, Commercial Ventilation Equipment, Water-Cooled Chilling Plants, AHU Chiller Plant, and Air Purification Units, reflect our commitment to quality and innovation. Together, let’s achieve optimal cooling solutions for your industrial needs Together, let’s achieve optimal cooling solutions for your industrial needs!
