The document compares air-cooled and water-cooled chillers. Air-cooled chillers transfer heat from process water into the air and are commonly used when space is limited. Water-cooled chillers transfer heat to a cooling tower and are more efficient, used for industrial applications and where the heat load is large. Both are used for HVAC, industrial processes, and emergency cooling but water-cooled can reach lower temperatures.

1. The Difference
Between Air-Cooled &
Water-Cooled Chillers

2. An air-cooled chiller cooling process involves the absorption
of heat from process water. The heat is then transferred into
the air.
Chillers are most commonly used in applications where space
for the unit(s) is limited and the size of the discharged heat
load is not a factor.
The following are some of the most common applications for
air-cooled chillers.
Air-Cooled Chillers

3.  All types of HVAC comfort cooling applications
 Supplemental cooling
 Emergency response
 Industrial/specific operating conditions
 Food processing
 Ice rinks
 Process cooling
 Cold storage/warehousing
 Refinery and chemical production projects
 Scheduled outages and turn-around projects
 Testing requirements
 Standby services
Air-Cooled Chiller Applications

4.  Low temperature (-0°F)
 Explosion-proof
 Skid-mounted; trailer mounted
 Voltages: 208/230V, 460/480V
Air-Cooled Chiller Features

5. The water-cooled chiller cooling process involves the
absorption of heat from the process. The heat is then
transferred to a cooling tower to reduce return water
temperature.
Industrial and larger tonnage applications typically use water-
cooled chillers due to increased efficiency and size of the
discharged heat load is a factor.
The following are some of the most common applications for
water-cooled chillers.
Water-Cooled Chillers

6.  Supplemental cooling
 Emergency response
 Industrial/specific operating conditions
 Food processing
 Process cooling
 Cold storage/warehousing
 Refinery and chemical production projects
 Scheduled outages and turn-around projects
 Testing requirements
 Standby services
 Low temp cooling / process
Water-Cooled Chiller Applications

7.  Low temperature (-40°F)
 Water, brine & ammonia chillers
 Explosion-proof
 Containerized; skid-mounted; trailer-mounted
 Voltages: 460/480V, 4160V
Water-Cooled Chiller Features