Comparing Air-Chilled & Water Cooled Chillers
Chillers are closed systems that use condensation and evaporation to bring cool atmospheric conditions into a room. Chillers use drying technology to facilitate heat transfer from a source of heat to an evaporator coil.
There are two types of chillers available for use in the commercial set up. These are air-cooled and water-cooled chillers. This article provides a comparison of the two types of chillers for the benefit of business entities looking to invest in the same.
Space Considerations
The amount of available space is an important factor to consider when choosing between air-chilled and water-chilled coolers. It is possible to have an air-chilled cooler installed in an open space such as the roof, parking lot, or any other ground-level area.
The standard water-cooled chiller is typically smaller than its air-chilled counterpart. However, installation of a water-chilled cooler requires a cooling tower and a mechanical room. Commercial entities looking to invest in water-cooled chillers should be in a position to meet the mentioned installation requirements.
It is important to point that air-chilled coolers may have poor recirculation if several chilling units are installed very close to each other. Recirculation problems can also occur if the air-cooled chiller is installed in an area surrounded by walls that are higher than the unit.
Noise-Related Considerations
In addition to the space considerations, it is also important to consider the amount of noise produced by air and water cooled chillers when making a decision between the two.
Unfortunately, both air and water-chilled coolers produce a certain amount of noise during their operation. However, air-chilled coolers will generate higher sound decibels during operation. This is because the operation of air-chilled coolers involves the use of powerful fans. As such, a water-chilled cooler would be more ideal for commercial entities where a more quiet work environment is needed.
There are a number of ways to reduce noise production when using air-cooled chillers, including the installation of acoustic barrier wall systems. However, this is an additional expense. The most affordable way to reduce noise production with chillers is to invest in a quieter unit when making a purchase.
Cost-Related Factors
Last but not least, it is important for commercial entities to consider the operational costs involved with both types of chillers. Water-chilled coolers are more expensive to operate than their air-chilled counterparts. This is seen in two ways. First, the use of water-chilled coolers requires an additional investment for the setting-up of a mechanical room that will house the chiller. There is also the additional cost of water treatment for entities that settle for water-chilled units.
Talk to air conditioning contractors to learn more about your options.
