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What is a Water Chiller?

Michael Anissimov
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Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 18,070
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A water chiller is an industrial water refrigeration apparatus that produces cold water to cool industrial process equipment. A water chiller is a complete system filled with refrigeration equipment, including a condenser, refrigerant, pipes, coolant expansion reservoir, pumps, and so on. Water is cooled to temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and pumped through a hydraulic circuit to reach the process equipment.

Industrial chillers can circulate as much as 400 tons of water. These units start at around US$2,500 and go up from there. Because some water chillers can be bulky, they are often designed to be stored on the side or roof of an industrial building and controlled from the inside.

Water chillers are a popular alternative for industrial facilities growing fast enough that the move from city water to specialized chilling units becomes cost-effective. Water chillers are also a well-known alternative to evaporative cooling towers. They are often claimed to be superior to towers in that the coolant water comes into contact with air in a tower, but stays in a closed circuit in a water chiller system.

Selecting a water chiller requires calculating the exact amount of chilling needed, that is, the precise amount of energy added to the coolant by the process machinery. Then a water chiller may be selected for maximum efficiency.

Water chillers conserve water by cycling the coolant in a closed circuit, rather than continuously pumping in city water. Adequate cooling is especially necessary in precision manufacturing, where slight overheating can cause thousands of dollars in lost product or equipment. Some specialized chillers can lower the temperature of non-water coolants to as low as -50°C (-58°F). Process equipment that requires cooling includes lasers, ozone generators, plastic applications, vacuum pumps, cutting and welding machines, packing and printing machines, X-ray machines, STM microscopes, and plenty more. Smaller water chillers are used around the home to produce tasty drinking water, or to cool water for use in aquariums.

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Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated InfoBloom contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
By anon160200 — On Mar 15, 2011

there are formulas to calculate this. You will also have to specify the refrigerant, the load or cooling capacity or what kind of application it is.

without the above details it is hard to calculate the perfect model of chiller. --Keyur

By anon92366 — On Jun 27, 2010

where we always are is a control issue, but we have to change the compressor and the suction, with the discarge 50, psi, 250 psi.

By hareesh — On May 08, 2009

water chillers are available operating between 40 deg C and 30 deg C? in one of our plants, we have a cooling water requirement at 30 deg. C, where available the raw water temp is 40 deg and ambient temp is 48 deg.C. please advise.

Hareesh K K

Chennai,

India

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated InfoBloom contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology,...
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