Basic Configuration of Industrial Chillers: Industrial chillers are typically equipped with a single-unit control system, built-in compressor dryers, filters, expansion valves, and maintenance valve interfaces to ensure reliable, safe operation and ease of maintenance.
The air cooled chiller requires basic components such as a separated chilled water pump and a collector. In contrast, the water cooled screw chiller requires additional equipment like a dedicated cooling tower, water collector, and water distributor. The supporting equipment for a water cooled screw chiller is more complex, leading to higher initial investment. Generally, the cost of an air cooled chiller of the same capacity is lower than that of a water cooled screw chiller.
An air cooled chiller does not require a cooling tower, making it suitable for environments with poor water quality. However, it is noisier compared to water cooled systems.
A water cooled screw chiller, on the other hand, operates quietly and requires a cooling tower, making it more suitable for environments with good water quality. If the water quality is poor, the machine's water pathways can become clogged, leading to increased maintenance costs and operational losses.
Due to water's much higher heat transfer efficiency compared to air, the water cooled screw chiller has an energy efficiency ratio (EER) that is 300 to 500 kcal/h higher than that of the air cooled chiller.
The overall power consumption of a water cooled screw chiller (including the energy used by the cooling water pump and cooling tower fan) is about 25% lower than that of an air cooled chiller.
The heat transfer temperature difference for a water cooled screw chiller's condenser typically ranges from 4°C to 8°C, while for an air cooled chiller, it's usually between 8°C and 15°C. With the same outdoor ambient temperature, the cooling water temperature in the water cooled system is lower than the outdoor air temperature. As a result, the condensing temperature in the air cooled chiller will be higher than that in the water cooled chiller under the same cooling load, leading to higher power consumption in the air cooled system.
The shell-and-tube condensers used in water cooled screw chillers are less affected by the accumulation of dirt, meaning the performance degradation due to fouling is minimal, and the cleaning cycle is longer. This results in lower maintenance costs.
In contrast, the finned-tube condensers used in air cooled chillers are more susceptible to performance loss due to dust accumulation. Therefore, dust filters must be installed in front of the heat exchange fins, and frequent cleaning is required.
When selecting between an air cooled chiller and a water cooled screw chiller, it's important to consider various factors such as the operating environment, temperature control range, required cooling capacity, and heat dissipation conditions. Both systems have their advantages. For small-capacity chiller systems, air cooled chillers may be more cost-effective, easy to install, and provide better value. For larger-capacity systems, water cooled screw chillers are preferable due to their superior heat dissipation, stable performance, and lower maintenance costs.
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