Vapor compression chillers air- or water-cooled

Chillers use refrigerant systems to cool residential or commercial spaces and industrial fluids indirectly. Compression chillers use an electrically-driven compressor to force refrigerant through the system. Single-circuit chillers have an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve. Dual-circuit systems have two compressors, a condenser, an evaporator, and two expansion valves.

Comfort cooling

To generate comfort cooling in offices, hospitals, or other buildings, a refrigerant is used to chill water in the evaporator, which is then distributed to an air handling unit (AHU). The AHU uses the chilled water to cool the air.

Water- or air-cooled chillers

Chillers can be either water cooled or air cooled. Water-cooled chillers use a heat exchanger as a condenser, while air-cooled chillers are equipped with an air-coil condenser.

Air-cooled chillers use fans to channel air across the exposed tubes of the condenser. They consume more energy than water-cooled chillers but are a good option for stationary cooling.
Water-cooled chillers work by pumping water through a sealed condenser, where it absorbs heat, and then dispersing it through a heat sink, such as surface or ground water. Water-cooled chillers are more energy-efficient and durable than air-cooled chillers.

Types of compressors

Five types of compressors are commonly used in the HVAC industry. They are suited to different types of cooling and different cooling loads.

Reciprocating compressors

Use a piston and chamber to compress the refrigerant. They were one of the earliest types of compressors invented and are still the most common type used in air conditioning systems.

Centrifugal compressors

Often used for large cooling loads in high- and very-high-capacity water chillers. Medium capacity centrifugal compressors that are optimized for R134a, R513a, R1234ze and R515b are less common but are also used.

Scroll compressors

Common in both air and water chillers. They use two spiral plates (one stationary and one rotating) to compress the refrigerant. Scroll compressors are most common in low (20-150 kW) and medium capacity (150-650 kW) chillers that use R410A or R32 as a refrigerant.

Screw compressors

Also used in middle- to high-capacity water and air chillers. They use two interlocking rotating helical rotors to compress the refrigerant. While they are designed work with a variety of refrigerants, R134a and R513a is most common.

Rotary compressors

Common in small air and water chillers.

Close-temperature-control cooling

To generate comfort cooling in offices, hospitals, or other buildings, a refrigerant is used to chill water in the evaporator, which is then distributed to an air handling unit (AHU). The AHU uses the chilled water to cool the air.

SWEP brazed plate heat exchangers for vapor compression chillers

SWEP offers a wide range of highly efficient brazed plate heat exchangers that can be optimized for use with low-GWP refrigerants, in condenser or evaporator duties, in all types of compression chillers. They feature a flexible distribution system that can easily be adjusted to the refrigerant and the temperature approach. They can deliver at full or partial load with proper pressure drop, ensuring optimal refrigerant distribution in the plate package.

Relevant products for vapor compression chiller applications

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