Chiller with water-cooled condenser. With remote hydraulic module

One of the criteria for classifying chillers (refrigeration machines) is related to the method of heat removal from the condenser. The most common case is when heat is removed by outside air. However, sometimes it is more convenient to do this with water.

The main difference between a water-cooled chiller ( general view chiller is shown in Figure 1) from a chiller with air cooled- a condenser, which is not a tube-fin heat exchanger, but, as a rule, a shell-and-tube, plate or plate-fin heat exchanger.

Figure 1: Hitachi Water Cooled Chiller

In particular, chillers new series Hitachi's Samurai are equipped with plate-type heat exchangers (see Figure 2), which have several advantages over shell-and-tube heat exchangers. First, their internal volume is smaller and therefore requires less refrigerant. Also, plate heat exchangers are characterized by better heat transfer efficiency.

Figure 2. Plate (foreground) and shell-and-tube (background) condensers for water-cooled chillers

Advantages of water cooled chillers

Water condenser chillers (also called water chillers) have some advantages over air condenser chillers. Let's take a closer look at them.

Compactness of water-cooled chillers

As is known, the main reason for such large overall dimensions of air-cooled chillers is the condenser: to ensure a given heat removal using air, a huge blowing area is required. As a result, more than half of the chiller volume is occupied by the condenser.

Water, compared to air, has more favorable thermodynamic characteristics: its density and heat capacity are higher. This allows you to significantly reduce the working area of the heat exchanger, and, consequently, the dimensions of the chiller.

Possibility of internal placement

Water-cooled chillers do not necessarily require outdoor placement, since they do not need outside air. They can also be located indoors.

This is very important factor, since sometimes there is simply no large outdoor area to accommodate an air-cooled chiller. And this is where water-cooled chillers come to the rescue. Small dimensions and no need for outside air allow them to be installed inside buildings (technical rooms, pumping stations or basements).

An unobvious advantage of the internal placement of chillers is the possibility of using clean water as a coolant. This significantly simplifies the operation of the entire system as a whole, increases its efficiency, reduces the corrosive effect on pipelines and fittings, increases the environmental friendliness of the system and has a number of other advantages.

Disadvantages of water-cooled chillers

However, water-cooled chillers also have some disadvantages.

Water requirement

Water-cooled chillers use water to cool the condenser. This can be a circulating or flowing stream of water, possibly even industrial water, but always purified. Therefore, to avoid clogging of the condenser, a filter must be placed in front of it.

If recirculated water is used (and this is the most common case), this water after the condenser must be cooled in order to be able to recirculate it to the chiller condenser.

Additional elements for water cooling

Cooling towers or dry coolers are usually used to cool water.

In the first case, water is sprayed into an air stream, which is cooled by the evaporation of this water and also cools the remaining water (see Fig. 3). This method allows you to reduce the water temperature, however, it requires constant replenishment of the water circuit.

Figure 3. Water cooling tower

In the second case, heat exchangers are installed outside to cool water with outside air - so-called dry coolers (see Fig. 4). In this case, the water circuit is closed and practically does not require replenishment. However, the water temperature remains slightly higher.

Figure 4. Drycooler

In any case, if a circulating water circuit is used, it is necessary additional equipment to cool it.

Diagram of a refrigeration system with water-cooled chillers

The diagram of a refrigeration system with water-cooled chillers is somewhat more complicated than the diagram of a refrigeration system with air-cooled chillers due to the presence of an additional water circuit - the condenser cooling circuit. In Figure 5, this contour is indicated by two flows “Water from the cooling tower” and “water to the cooling tower”.

Like any other water circuit, this circuit also includes various fittings: taps, filters, control units, etc.

Figure 5. Water-cooled chiller diagram.
Position “2” is a water-cooled condenser, for which flows of cooling (“water from the cooling tower”) and heated (“water to the cooling tower”) water are provided.

Ultimately, the choice of cooling method for the chiller condenser depends on the specific object and is selected for a given project.

Refrigeration machines, or chillers, are classified by how heat is removed from the condenser. In most models, this process occurs using outside air. But in some conditions it is more practical to do this with water.

A water-cooled chiller differs from an air-cooled device. Its design uses a shell-and-tube condenser, which is cooled using a cold water.

When purchasing equipment, it is important to pay attention to a number of important aspects:

Cooling power. This value depends on many indicators and is calculated depending on the operating conditions: the type of coolant (pure water or a mixture with glycol is used), the temperature of the coolant at the inlet/outlet of the chiller (if a high indicator is provided, it means more power), condensation temperature. The power of the device depends on the conditions in which it operates. When purchasing, you must immediately provide information about the conditions for using the chiller. The optimal temperature at the coolant inlet/outlet is 12/7C. Outside temperature should be +35C.

Thermostatic valve (TRV). One of the important elements of the refrigeration circuit is the thermostatic valve. To obtain reliable and durable operation, it is worth purchasing a chiller with an electronic expansion valve. Mechanical is cheaper, but may require greater costs in the future.

Case material. Experts advise paying attention to this special attention. The most practical option is a galvanized body. Often the material needs to be discussed separately at the time of purchase.

Compressor. Chillers are used various types compressors. The most popular are spiral, screw, centrifugal. Scroll and screw compressors are considered a reliable and practical option. They are durable and do not require high costs for additional maintenance. Centrifugal compressors are used in chillers with very large cooling capacities.

Heat exchanger type. The buyer is often faced with the choice of pipe materials used in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. Pipes made of titanium, cupronickel or stainless steel are used when using aggressive cooling media (for example sea water), as well as in food industry.

Guarantee. Do not neglect such an important detail as the warranty for equipment repairs. Other than that equal conditions you should give preference to the option with a longer warranty period.

Additional purchase details. It is worth asking the seller what type of freon is used in the chiller. If necessary, additional parts such as mesh filters to protect the condenser and water filters are also purchased. A remote installation display can be purchased to make it easier to monitor the chiller remotely.

Operating principle of water-cooled chillers

The water chiller includes a condenser, compressor, evaporator and thermal expansion valve. Liquid freon is supplied to the evaporator, where it boils, after which it evaporates and at the same time takes heat from the coolant. From the evaporator the refrigerant into gas state enters the compressor, where it is compressed and heated. Then it enters the condenser, where it condenses, i.e. it becomes liquid, and the heat generated is removed with the help of water. After this, liquid freon passes through the thermal expansion valve and again ends up in the evaporator, the process repeats.

Benefits of use

Compactness. Air cooled chillers take up a lot of space due to the required condenser blowing area. The heat exchanger in a water chiller is smaller, and therefore its design is more compact.
Advantages of the location. The water condenser chiller does not require outdoor installation to operate. The device is often installed indoors. By placing it in a basement or technical room, you can save a lot of space.

Scope of application

You can install a chiller with a water condenser almost anywhere. In an office space, the use of such equipment will help save space and not spoil the facade of the building, since it can be installed directly inside the room.

It is also convenient to use water cooling in production. If it is possible to install the chiller near a water source, this will help save money on laying and replacing pipes.

Buy a water-cooled chiller from Yantai Moon Group ("Moon Group") in Moscow

A water chiller is a profitable and practical way to create the correct microclimate in any room. Our company is the official representative of the Moon Tech group of companies in the region, which manufactures heat control equipment.

Presented on our website large selection water-cooled chillers.

Great experience companies and a rich customer base have allowed the company to establish itself as a conscientious manufacturer selling quality products. The prices for our equipment compare favorably with most, thanks to direct deliveries from the manufacturer.

To find out the exact cost of equipment, get advice or place an order, just leave a request using the form feedback or by calling the phone number listed on the website.

The General Climate company offers to buy chillers with water-cooled condenser at a competitive price in Moscow or another city in the Russian Federation. In a device of this type, heat is removed through water. The main difference between water-cooled chillers and their air-cooled counterparts is the design of the condenser. As a rule, heat exchangers of the plate, shell-and-tube or plate-fin type are installed in them.

A water-cooled condenser chiller has the following advantages:

compactness due to the smaller volume of the heat exchanger operating on water;
Possibility of installation inside the building, as it does not require much space and outside air.

AREAS OF APPLICATION

Such chillers are successfully used on cargo ships carrying perishable products to maintain low temperatures in the holds and ensure stable operation of engines and certain parts of technical and electronic equipment. By drawing water directly from the sea into the circuit, the chiller becomes especially economical and energy efficient.

In the food industry, chillers of this type are used very widely for cooling liquids on a large scale. On manufacturing enterprises they are used for cooling machine tools, vacuum installations, thermoplastic machines, etc.

In air-conditioning systems for facilities requiring zoned temperature distribution, liquid-cooled chillers are used for heat recovery.

Despite all the obvious advantages of water-cooled chillers, a constant water flow is required for their full functioning. It can be flow-through or circulating (connected to cooling towers or dry coolers). However, the water must be clean. Due to a simpler design solution, they are much cheaper compared to their air counterparts, but require the use of additional devices - external coolers.

Water-cooled chillers are devices that perform their assigned task using water circulating in the system. They are a good alternative to units that use air for the same purpose. Moreover, in some cases it becomes the only possible way removing heat from the condenser.

Such installations are used for indoor placement, often as an element of the central air conditioning system in buildings. As a rule, they are installed in separate rooms - basements, pumping stations, ventilation chambers, utility rooms, etc.

Refrigeration circuit structure

Water-cooled chillers are not an independent element, but always a part complex system, which assumes the presence of cooling modules, pumps, pipelines, fan coils serving the end user of the generated resource.

The chiller itself consists of several elements:

refrigeration circuit (compressor, expansion device, condenser and evaporator water heat exchangers, filter drier);
automation;
protective devices.

During operation, the device processes the coolant, which is then transmitted through pipelines to fan coil units and other heat exchange units. The condenser circuit, oriented towards water cooling, communicates with a dry cooler mounted outside the building, or with a remote cooling tower, where, in fact, the cooling process of the working substance takes place. A special substance circulates inside the circuit, usually a non-freezing liquid, the movement of which is ensured by the kit circulation pumps. An important advantage of this method of heat removal is the ability to use external coolants - running water taken from a nearby reservoir, etc.

Types of refrigeration machines

The specifics of using water cooling modules and their purpose determine the type of chiller:

the nature of the compressor used (devices are classified as scroll, screw, oil-free);
equipment power (low-productivity - up to 150 kW, medium-productivity - up to 400 kW, high-performance - over 400 kW);
class of heat exchangers (plate, shell-and-tube, flooded);
number of refrigerant circuits (1, 2, 3, 4 circuits);
nature of the refrigerant (R-410a, R-22, R-134a, R-407C).

Each type of equipment is suitable for specific operating conditions.

Main advantages of using water cooling

In most cases, refrigeration equipment offered to consumers today are ergonomic designs that are characterized by extreme energy efficiency. Among the advantages of these designs, it should be emphasized:

compactness (water chillers do not require a significant area for blowing the condenser, unlike their air-cooled counterparts. Therefore, the working area of the equipment, as well as the dimensions of the refrigeration module itself, are much smaller);
possibility of expansion existing system by replacing or adding equipment with greater power;
year-round operation (cold is generated throughout all seasons, the coolant is cooled without a refrigeration cycle);
installation of equipment inside or outside buildings;
the system is powered from any source of clean water (pipeline, nearby river, etc.).

The General Climate company offers a wide range of monoblock chillers; our specialists are ready to assist in selecting the optimal equipment.

Please check with our managers for current prices for water-cooled chillers.

Water chillers

This section of our Internet portal presents chiller models with water-cooled condenser. Unlike models with an air condenser, which are designed optimally for operation in air conditioning systems of buildings, a water condenser chiller or, as specialized experts call it, a “water water” chiller with its design is fully consistent with its use in production processes. Today it is no longer possible to imagine the production of thermoplastics and dairy products, or the operation of laser machines and the production of food drinks, the production of which involves a natural fermentation process without the use of constant temperature systems. This is where the industrial water cooling chiller became a core element of the production process. A water-cooled chiller system has a number of advantages over models with an air condenser.

Advantages of a water chiller:

1. Minimum overall dimensions for such installations

Due to the fact that heat is removed by liquid, the condenser design has much smaller dimensions than a capacitor in which heat is removed by blowing air. This makes it possible to place the refrigeration machine directly in the workshop, which has a positive effect on the service life of the equipment, and also makes it possible to use them throughout the entire calendar year.

2. Since the operating principle of the water chiller allows it to be used all year round, models of water-cooled units are equipped with components with increased wear resistance, which has a positive effect on the reliability of chillers.

3. The use of clean running water, which is used in general during production, to remove heat from the condenser has a positive effect on the cooling capacity of the chiller and its service life.

Working principle of water cooled chiller

The main components of the chiller are the refrigeration circuit units: compressor, evaporator, condenser and thermostatic valve.

The external liquid circuit of the cooling system using a chiller takes heat from other equipment involved in the production process and carries it to the heat exchanger (evaporator). This is where the intersection of two different temperature contours of the chiller system occurs. Heat from the external circuit is transferred to the internal circuit of the chiller, further due to physical properties refrigerant and other components of the chiller, heat is transferred to the condenser, where the heat is removed by the flow of running water in the cooling tower or by blowing with an air flow in the dry cooler.

Important to remember

Chillers are equipment that ensures the operation of all production process units that require heat removal. The practice of using refrigeration units (chillers) in production processes proves that it is much more economical to use a water-cooled chiller than an air-cooled one. This is due to the fact that air-cooled chillers are rarely used for all 12 months of the year, therefore the units are designed for fewer machine hours. If we take into account that expensive equipment is almost always used in production, we can draw the following conclusion: the failure of a chiller with remote condenser cooling will entail the breakdown of many installations requiring heat removal. Therefore, do not forget that the price of a water chiller includes not only the cost of the refrigeration machine, but also a certain guarantee of long-term operation of other equipment that cannot be operated without the operation of the chiller.

How to choose the right water chiller and buy suitable model?

First of all, it is necessary to calculate the cold performance of the chiller. Otherwise, the installation will not perform its functions or will wear out. The second step is to pay attention to the possible placement of the condenser (it should be understood that during air cooling large number heat into the air space) or connection to running water. The next question that will confront you is whether a chiller hydraulic module is required and, if necessary, determine it technical specifications. If your technical specialists know all the selection parameters, then choosing an industrial chiller at the best price in our store will not be difficult for you. A well-thought-out product sorting filter will help you quickly get suitable models. If you have difficulties at any stage of selecting a chiller in Moscow or any other city in the Russian Federation, then immediately contact our engineers for advice. We are always ready to help you choose a chiller model that is suitable strictly for your parameters; only from us you can buy equipment from various manufacturers, and the price will be lower than the market average, since our company has signed agreements with official representatives manufacturing plants in Russia. You can buy a chiller in Moscow using the service of a free visit to the site by an engineer from our company.

The chiller, like any refrigeration machine, has a condenser in its refrigeration circuit so that the gaseous refrigerant after the compressor turns into a liquid state to be supplied for subsequent throttling.

Depending on the design and manufacturer, the chiller is equipped with capacitors different principle cooling.

Air cooling
Water cooling

Most often, chiller buyers choose a design with an air-cooled condenser, since there are at least two reasons for such a choice: a simpler design and a lower cost of such a chiller.

However, there are some factors that may influence the choice of a water-cooled chiller.

Calculated maximum temperature condensation when designing a standard chiller is 50C. If the condenser is air-cooled, then this corresponds to an air temperature of 35C. If the chiller is located on the sunny side, where it is exposed to direct sunlight during the day. sun rays, then the temperature “35C” is based on the following calculation: at least 10C from solar radiation and 25C direct air temperature. At air temperatures above 25C, the air condenser may not completely condense the refrigerant. In this case, choosing a chiller with a water-cooled condenser is the only correct one. Such chillers operate stably at air temperatures up to +45C, in the case of using an open cooling tower or a closed cooling tower with irrigation, and the sun's rays do not affect its location in any way. It is also possible to use a dry cooler, but this significantly reduces the permissible temperature environment and the electrical power consumption increases.

In many cases, chillers are used in winter period for heating If a chiller with an air-cooled condenser is used, it can be installed in a warm room, the hydraulic circuit can be filled with water, but the heat exchanger will have to be blown with air using centrifugal fans. The air itself must be supplied and discharged through air ducts. Such design solutions make the equipment more complex and lead to a significant increase in cost. Centrifugal fans also create a lot of noise, which makes it difficult to find a place to install the chiller.

When installing a chiller with an air condenser outdoors and operating it in the heating mode in winter, the design is significantly simplified, because you just need to fill the hydraulic circuit with antifreeze liquid.

When installing a chiller with an air condenser outdoors and operating it in the winter in cooling mode, in addition to filling the hydraulic circuit with antifreeze liquid, it is necessary to use an additional expensive fan speed controller to maintain the condensation pressure, and starting after a long stop will be difficult, especially when low temperatures environment. This complicates its design and leads to a decrease in chiller performance.

All similar negative factors are eliminated by using a chiller with a water condenser, which can be located in any warm room. In this case, to operate in winter, you only need to fill the hydraulic circuit of the condenser and install a simpler option - a three-way valve with a drive to more accurately maintain the condensation pressure. This greatly simplifies the operation of the chiller.