How the 30-Ton Chiller Works

Air cooling refers to how a chiller rejects heat. Air-cooled chillers function by actively absorbing heat from the system’s process water and transferring it into the atmosphere. 

The process starts with the primary return bringing warm water to the chiller. The refrigerant gathers the heat in the evaporator, allowing the water to flow through the direct supply to the cooled space. The refrigerant moves through the compressor to raise the temperature and pressure before reaching the condenser.

Fans typically circulate external air through the condenser to absorb the heat from the refrigerant and force it into the atmosphere. The refrigerant then moves through the expansion valve and returns to the evaporator in liquid form.

Water-cooled and air-cooled chillers work in similar ways. While they both have nearly identical components, the main difference is that one uses air to fuel the condenser cooling while the other uses water.