Chiller and Coolant Circulation systems are important parts of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) setups in big buildings. These systems help in cooling and removing humidity from places like offices and stores.
Modern buildings aim to have efficient HVAC systems to save energy and be more eco-friendly. People inside buildings expect these systems to keep them comfortable, no matter the weather outside.
Chiller and coolant circulation systems are crucial in many places like hotels, hospitals, stadiums, and factories. The cooling system usually uses the most power in these places.
A chiller, in general, aids in the transfer of heat from an interior to an exterior environment. The physical state of a refrigerant as it circulates through the chiller system is used to power this heat-transfer mechanism. Chillers can undoubtedly serve as the heart of any central HVAC system.
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A CHILLER AND COOLANT CIRCULATION?
A chiller works on the principle of vapour compression or absorption. At a temperature of roughly 50°F (10°C), chillers provide a continuous coolant flow to the cold side of a process water system. The coolant is then pumped through the process, removing heat from one area of the facility (e.g., machinery, process equipment, etc.) and returning it to the return side of the process water system. A chiller is a mechanical refrigeration system that employs vapour compression and is linked to the process water system through an evaporator.
A chiller has four main parts: evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion device. They all work with a refrigerant, undergoing different processes.
The evaporator takes heat from the coolant and gives it to the refrigerant. This makes the refrigerant change from a liquid to a vapour, and it cools down the coolant.
Then, the refrigerant vapour goes to the compressor. The compressor does two things: it takes the refrigerant from the evaporator and keeps the pressure low there to absorb heat properly. Also, it raises the pressure of the vapour so that it stays hot enough to release heat in the next step.
In the condenser, the refrigerant becomes a liquid again. The heat it releases when it changes from vapor to liquid is taken away by something cool, like air or water.