Chiller Systems
Compare technologies for this integral element in building cooling solutions.
Chillers are used in buildings to provide chilled water for use in air conditioning or other cooling applications. In some cases, waste heat from chillers is also used as a heat source for space heating or water heating in the building.
Click on a topic of interest below for more information about specific space cooling technologies.
| Absorption chillers | Use heat from gas-fired burners or waste heat from steam generating processes to produce chilled water. |
| Centrifugal & Screw Packaged Chillers | Packaged for easy installation, these units are used in larger buildings. They are the most efficient and offer the lowest weight, height and footprint of any chiller alternative. |
| Reciprocating & Scroll Packaged Chillers | Packaged for easy installation, these chiller units are typically used in smaller buildings and offer lower installation costs. |
| Natural Gas - Engine Driven Chillers | These are similar to their electric counterparts but use compressors driven by natural gas engines. |
| Centrifugal Compressors | Typically found in large chiller units, these are the most efficient systems and use one or more rotating impellers to compress refrigerant. |
| Screw Compressors | Typically found in mid-size chiller units, these highly efficient systems use one or two rotating screws to compress refrigerant. |
| Reciprocating Compressors | Typically found in smaller chiller units, these use pistons and intake and exhaust valves to compress refrigerant. Only refrigerants that operate as a vapor can be used. |
| Scroll Compressors | This recent design uses one stationary and one orbiting scroll to compress refrigerant. Being more efficient, these will eventually replace most reciprocating compressors. |
| Mechanical Drives | A variety of electric motor, gas turbine, reciprocating engine, and steam turbine alternatives are available to drive chiller compressors. |
| Evaporative Cooling | Reduce the energy consumed by mechanical cooling equipment by using the cooling effects of evaporating water. |
| About the free cooling effect | Produce chilled water without operating the chillers. |