Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a Water Chiller?

A chiller is a mechanical refrigeration machine similar to an air conditioner except that it cools a fluid (usually water or glycol) instead of cooling air. When a large air conditioner is required it is sometimes more feasible to use one large chiller instead of many small air conditioners and pump the chilled water to various air handlers in the building. Chillers are also used to cool manufacturing processes to include chemical processing facilities, plastic molding machines, breweries, distilleries, pasteurizers, or any other machine that requires cooling to operate.

What are the Major Components of a Water Chiller?

A &#;chiller&#; consists of a few major components:  compressors, an evaporator heat exchanger, condenser heat exchangers, expansion valves, and some piping and controls are the basics.  Compressors are usually of reciprocating, scroll, centrifugal, or rotary screw types.  The evaporator heat exchanger is usually of shell & tube or all stainless steel brazed plate.  The condenser heat exchanger can be either air-cooled via a condenser coil and fans or water-cooled via another heat exchanger cooled by a cooling tower or other condenser water source. 

How does the Water Chiller Produce Chilled Water?

A chiller removes heat from a circulating fluid and discharges it to the ambient air.  A chiller produces cold water by the transfer of heat from entering water to refrigerant in the evaporator heat exchanger.  A typical chiller would for example chill 55°F EWT, (entering water temp.), down to 45°F LWT, (leaving water temp.).  The refrigerant would then carry the heat to the condenser for it to be removed to the environment via an air-cooled coil or water-cooled heat exchanger.  If a cooling tower cools a water-cooled heat exchanger, the cooling tower will ultimately reject the heat to the environment.  Once the refrigerant leaves the condenser heat exchanger it will be compressed and the cycle continues.

What is the Difference between a Water Chiller and a Cooling Tower?

A cooling tower is used to cool water instead of chilling it.  Cooling towers use the evaporative cooling effect to transfer heat to the environment.   Generally water is dropped through a fill material while air is moved across the fill.  The evaporative cooling effect transfers heat from the water to the air.  The major component of a cooling tower is a fan to move the air across the fill material.  Cooling towers work well for cooling higher temperature water or fluids.  A typical cooling tower would cool 95°F EWT down to 85°F LWT.  Cooling towers are often used in conjunction with water-cooled chillers, but have many stand-alone uses as well.

How do I Know if I Need a Water Chiller or a Cooling Tower?

Depending on the application and operating conditions, chillers and cooling towers both have a place and design applications they are best used for.  Cooling towers are most effective at LWT temperatures of 75°F and higher, while you would most likely need a chiller for LWT of 75°F or less.   For LWT temperatures of 65°F and lower, cooling towers would likely not be an option.  Typically, only a chiller can produce LWT of 65°F and lower.  If you are unsure, give us a call and our engineering department will assist you in the selection of the right machine for your application.

Why Should I Buy a Used Chiller, Cooling Tower, or Other Piece of HVAC or Related Equipment?

1. To save time.

• Depending on the type of chiller and manufacturer, new equipment lead times can easily be weeks to months.  Can you afford to do without cooling for that long?  Used and surplus chillers, cooling towers, heat exchangers, packaged ac units, and other hvac and related equipment is available, usually for immediate shipment.

2. To save money versus buying new.

• Quality late model used and unused surplus is available for significant savings versus buying new. 

3. To save money versus renting.

• If you are considering a recurring or rental period of more than a month you should investigate the possibility of buying a used chiller in lieu of renting.  A quality used chiller can often be purchased for less than you would spend renting.  Not to mention the added security of having a machine on hand should the need arise again in the future.

Chiller Rentals By CTCA&#;s skid-mounted chillers are always ready for 24/7 emergency delivery and installation.

Whether you&#;re considering renting or buying a chiller, there are several factors you should consider before taking the first step to ensure you receive the right cooling level the first time around. In this article, we&#;ll be answering the 4 most frequently asked questions regarding renting or buying chiller units.

Table of Contents

What is the difference between HVAC and chiller?

What are the different types of chillers?

Which type of chiller is best?

How much do chillers cost?

What is the difference between HVAC and chiller?

HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It is an encompassing set of technologies and solutions geared toward delivering optimal levels of heat, ventilation, and cooling needed by residents, businesses, and organizations. Chillers are a subset of HVAC; more specifically, chillers are one of the technologies falling under the AC part of HVAC.

When you hear the term &#;AC, the first thing that might come to mind is window-type and split-type A/C units that are typically used to cool rooms. In a way, chillers are similar to these units since both solutions are designed to cool a particular area. However, there are some key differences in the purpose, size, and capacity of chiller units from their standard household counterparts.

For more information, please visit Difference Between Chiller and Air Conditioner.

Chillers are typically used for high-volume applications and industrial settings like hospitals, refineries, and power stations where a constant level of cooling is required over a large area. Considering their purpose, they&#;re much bigger in size compared to typical A/C units and can bring more than 1,000 tons of cooling power, depending on the configuration. Household A/C units are usually limited in their ability to cool below 16°C, but chillers are designed to cool an area to levels below 16°C when needed. Simply put, chillers are one of many HVAC technologies which are specially designed for high-volume applications and industrial settings.

What are the different types of chillers?

There are 2 main types of chillers you should know about: Air-cooled chillers and water-cooled chillers.

Both chillers share the same method and mechanics of cooling, which involves the use of vapor compression. The key difference is that the water-cooled chillers use a cooling tower to remove unwanted heat, while air-cooled chillers use fans for heat dissipation

Air-Cooled Chiller

Air-cooled chillers use air to remove the unwanted heat through the process of fanning the heat moving along the open tubes of the condenser.

Air-cooled chillers are the best option when the area to be cooled has limited space or doesn&#;t have access to continuous clean water. These chillers have lower cooling efficiency than their water-cooled counterparts, but they are quick and easy to install and cheaper than water-cooled units.

Water-Cooled Chiller

Water-Cooled chillers use water to remove unwanted heat through the process of forcing water through the condenser&#;s tubes and dissipating the heat through a cooling tower.

Because water-cooled chillers use a cooling tower, this type of chiller offers a higher efficiency rating compared to its air-cooled counterpart. However, these units require additional components like condenser water pumps and make-up water pumps on top of the existing cooling tower, which increases the overall cost of these chillers.

Which type of chiller is best?

The best type of chiller is one that gets you the cooling level you need without exceeding your ideal installation and operating costs.

Both air-cooled and water-cooled chillers are better suited to some situations than others, which is why they both exist and are both widely used today. Which solution is best for your situation will depend on a number of factors. For example, if you&#;re in an area with no continuous clean water supply or if the area&#;s water supply costs significantly more than electricity, an air-cooled chiller will likely be a better fit and help you better control costs.

While your decision-making process for the best chiller type for your unique situation may seem complex, knowing some key differentiating factors can help simplify your decision. To help, we&#;ve listed the pros and cons of each type of chiller below.

Air-Cooled Chiller

Pros

• Great for small and medium-sized businesses with limited space
• Lower installation and maintenance cost
• Quick and easy to install
• Good with outdoor installation and in areas where access to the water supply may be limited
• Heat ejected from the unit can be repurposed to provide heating for the industrial area during cooler periods

Cons

• Sensitive to the environment, making it more vulnerable to blockages and recirculation problems
• Shorter unit lifespan than water-cooled chillers
• Require more processing energy
• The fanning process makes it noisier than water-cooled chillers

Water-Cooled Chiller

Pros

• Works well for large spaces, even with extreme environmental temperature fluctuations
• More efficient and uses less energy than air-cooled chillers
• For long-term use or purchases, these units last longer than air-cooled chillers
• Quieter cooling operation

Cons

• More expensive to install and maintain due to the number of components required like pumps, towers, and tanks
• Not suitable for areas with clean water sourcing problems
• Required to undergo routine condenser water treatment to avoid the formation of sediments

How much do Chillers Cost?

Many reputable chiller manufacturers, including Trane, Carrier, and York Chillers, do not disclose chiller pricing on their websites. However, detailed research can reveal an approximate price range, depending on the type and size of your chiller unit.

Mark Stehney, a writer for CSE Magazine, developed and published a price comparison between air-cooled and water-cooled chillers. His research showed that a 200-ton air-cooled chiller costs approximately $250,000, while a 200-ton water-cooled chiller can run approximately $340,000. These cost approximations were based on previous-year pricing and accounted for a 3% annual inflation rate.

The $90,000 difference between air-cooled and water-cooled chillers can be attributed to the difference in unit structure and needed accessories. As previously mentioned, air-cooled chillers don&#;t require a cooling tower, condenser water pump, condenser pipe, or other controls and accessories.

However, this isn&#;t the only cost consideration when comparing chiller prices; the same report also showed that 200-ton air-cooled chillers cost about twice ($122,400) the yearly energy costs of 200-ton water-cooled chillers ($69,360). To calculate the true cost of ownership, you should evaluate a number of factors, including installation costs, how long you plan to own and operate your chiller, and any ancillary costs your company may incur.

Considering the significant amount of money and considerations involved, it&#;s best to test out your ideal solution first by renting a chiller. By using a chiller rentals, you can easily gauge which type of chiller is best for you at a fraction of the total cost. For short-term use, you may save tens of thousands of dollars vs. purchasing a unit directly. With a rental, you&#;ll incur less risk and have a maximum cooling capacity for your business!

Get Best Chiller Rental For Your Business

You don&#;t have to spend $250,000 or more just to get your own chiller. Instead, you can easily rent one with Chiller Rentals By CTCA and have it delivered and installed in 24 hours!

Trusted for 44 years, Chiller Rentals By CTCA offers nationwide portable chiller delivery, installation, and support 24/7, 365 days a year. Our chiller experts are always available to help you get the best chiller rental for your situation and your budget, saving you time and money.

Call us anytime at 1 (866) 880- or contact us so our chiller experts can assist with your cooling problems today

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