Chillers in HVAC

Systems
 A chiller is a mechanical refrigeration system used in
HVAC applications to remove heat from a liquid (usually
Introduction water or glycol), which is then used for cooling air or
to Chillers
equipment in buildings and industrial processes. Chillers
play a crucial role in large-scale air conditioning systems,
industrial cooling, and medical applications.
 Description Common Uses
Uses ambient air to reject
heat through condenser fans. Commercial buildings, data
Air-Cooled Chiller
Ideal for outdoor centers, manufacturing units.
installations.

Types of Uses water from a cooling Large commercial buildings,

Chillers Water-Cooled Chiller tower to dissipate heat,
providing higher efficiency.
hospitals, pharmaceuticals,
industrial cooling.

Uses heat instead of

Cogeneration plants, district
electricity to drive the cooling
Absorption Chiller cooling, industrial
cycle, typically utilizing waste
applications.
heat.

Uses a centrifugal
compressor for high-capacity Airports, malls, industrial
Centrifugal Chiller
cooling, best for large-scale facilities.
applications.
 Scroll Chiller Description Common Uses
Uses scroll compressors,
Small commercial
ideal for small to medium
Scroll Chiller buildings, telecom
applications with lower
rooms.
Types of loads.
Chillers Uses screw compressors,
suitable for variable
Offices, hotels,
Screw Chiller cooling loads and
process cooling.
medium-sized
applications.

Uses piston-type
Reciprocating Old HVAC systems,
compressors, generally
Chiller industrial processes.
less efficient but robust.
 Water-Cooled
Parameter Air-Cooled Chiller
Chiller

Heat Rejection Uses a cooling tower and Uses ambient air with
Medium water loop condenser fans
Difference
Between Higher efficiency due to
Lower efficiency, affected
Water-Cooled Efficiency water’s better heat
by ambient temperature
and Air- transfer properties
Cooled
Lower as it doesn’t
Chillers Installation Cost
Higher due to cooling
require additional cooling
tower, piping, and pumps
towers

Higher due to water

Maintenance Lower as it doesn’t
treatment and cooling
Cost require water treatment
tower upkeep
 Parameter Water-Cooled Chiller Air-Cooled Chiller

Difference Requires a dedicated Can be installed outdoors

Space
Between Requirement
mechanical room and cooling with minimal space
Water-Cooled tower space requirements
and Air-
Suitable for smaller
Cooled Suitability
Best for large buildings,
applications and places
continuous cooling needs
Chillers with water scarcity

Longer (20-30 years with good

Lifespan Shorter (15-20 years)
maintenance)
 Water-Cooled Air-Cooled
Application
Chiller Chiller

Commercial Large office spaces, Small to medium-

Buildings hospitals, malls sized offices, IT parks
Applications
of Chillers Process cooling in Light industrial
Industrial Cooling manufacturing, cooling, telecom
pharmaceuticals rooms

Used in large data Small-scale data

Data Centers centers with precision centers with limited
cooling needs space
 WATER-
AIR-COOLED
APPLICATION COOLED
CHILLER
CHILLER

Required for medical

Emergency cooling
Hospitals imaging equipment,
backup
Applications operating rooms
of Chillers
Large hotels, resorts
Small hotels,
Hotels with centralized
restaurants
cooling needs

Used in urban district Not typically used for

District Cooling
cooling systems district cooling
 Water-Cooled
Criteria Air-Cooled Chiller
Chiller
Selection Cooling Capacity (TR)
Suitable for 100 TR and Suitable for 5-500 TR
above applications
Criteria for
Chillers Energy Efficiency Typically 0.55 – 0.65 Typically 0.65 – 1.2
(kW/TR) kW/TR kW/TR

Initial Cost Higher Lower

 Water-Cooled
Criteria Air-Cooled Chiller
Chiller

Availability of Water Essential Not required

Selection
Criteria for Efficiency decreases in
Ambient Conditions Suitable for all climates
Chillers hot climates

Needs additional space Compact, rooftop

Space Availability
for cooling towers installation possible
 Formula for Cooling Load Calculation

The total cooling load (in Tons of Refrigeration, TR) is calculated using:

Example Q=500×GPM×ΔT
Calculation Where:
(For a 500 TR
Chiller • Q = Cooling capacity (BTU/hr)
System)
• GPM = Water flow rate (gallons per minute)

• ΔT = Temperature difference in water (°F)

 Parameter Water-Cooled Chiller Air-Cooled Chiller

Energy Consumption Lower (0.55-0.65 kW/TR) Higher (0.75-1.0 kW/TR)

Initial Cost (per TR) ₹50,000 - ₹80,000 ₹35,000 - ₹60,000

Cost of
Maintenance Annual Maintenance High due to water Low (~3-5% of capital
& Running Cost treatment
capital cost)
(~5-10% of cost)

Comparison
Operating Cost (per ₹6,000 - ₹12,000 ₹8,000 - ₹15,000
year per TR)

Lifespan 20-30 years 15-20 years

 • Water-Cooled Chiller: 500 TR × 0.6 kW/TR = 300 kW/hr

• Air-Cooled Chiller: 500 TR × 0.85 kW/TR = 425 kW/hr

• Assuming ₹10/kWh, the operating cost:

Example
Calculation: • Water-Cooled = ₹3000/hr

• Air-Cooled = ₹4250/hr
 City Climate Chiller Type

Delhi Extreme Hot & Cold Water-Cooled

Chiller
Selection Mumbai Hot & Humid Water-Cooled
Based on
Climate Bangalore Moderate Air-Cooled

Guwahati Humid, Moderate Water-Cooled

 Project Name Chiller Type Location Capacity (TR)
NRL Expansion Water-Cooled Golaghat, 1000+ TR
Project Assam
Live HVAC AIIMS New Delhi Water-Cooled New Delhi, India 2000 TR
Projects Bangalore Water-Cooled Bengaluru, India 3500 TR
Using International Airport
Chillers DLF Cyber City Air-Cooled Gurugram, India 500 TR

ITC Hotel Chain Water-Cooled Multiple 2000+ TR

locations

Amazon Data Air-Cooled Mumbai, India 1000 TR

Centre
 • For large-scale applications, water-cooled chillers are
preferred due to higher efficiency and lower operating costs.

• For smaller installations or where water is scarce, air-

Conclusion cooled chillers are more practical.

• Selection should consider climate, load, space availability,

and energy efficiency to ensure optimal performance.