Factors To Consider When Choosing A Chiller

When it comes to chillers, figuring out where to start is the tricky part. Air-cooled or water-cooled? Used or new? What size do you need?The experts at Huazhao Refrigeration Equipment cover all of these questions and more in today's article.       

What is an industrial chiller?

An industrial chiller is a cooling system that keeps equipment and materials cool so that operations run smoothly. While air conditioners dehumidify the air, chillers cool the fluids that can be used to condition a space or cool a process simply by dissipating heat. However, these units do not "cool" or "chill" anything; they simply remove heat.

Water Cooled Chiller          

Factors to consider when choosing a chiller

When choosing a new cooling system, there are some general rules of thumb to keep in mind. Read on to better understand the different types of chillers available on the market.

1. Size

Size is one of the biggest factors to consider when purchasing a chiller. Choosing the correct size chiller is crucial. A chiller that is too small cannot properly cool your equipment or materials. On the other hand, a chiller that is too large will work properly, but over time, provide excess capacity that will fail prematurely due to short cycle times. In addition, you spend more money than you need to. So how do you know what size chiller you need?

Industrial chillers come in a variety of sizes, ranging from ¼ ton to thousands of tons in capacity. We recommend you use a chiller size calculator to determine what size chiller you need for your application. Below are some examples of chiller sizes based on industry standards.

Medical Chillers - 7 ½ ton and 5-ton chillers; or 12 ½ and 15-ton chillers for cooling multiple medical devices simultaneously

Welding Chillers - it's advised to have at least 1-ton of chilling capacity for 100KVA of welder capacity

Winery Chillers - typically, a 2-ton air cooled chiller is sufficient for most winery applications

Waterjet Cutting Chillers - common sizes are 2 and 3 ton

Hydroponic Chillers - sizes generally range from 1.5 to 100 tons

Flower Chiller - sizes range typically from 2-100 tons

Keep in mind that these sizes are only based on industry standards. Chiller Manufacturers like Huazhao can design and build custom units of virtually any size. We highly recommend using a chiller sizing tool with exact measurements for the most accurate estimation. You can also reach out to our experienced team for additional help with sizing requirements or general questions.

 Air Cooled Chiller

The Manufacturer

Always familiarize yourself with the manufacturer and their policies in advance. Ask the following questions and more before choosing a chiller. 

Quick Link to the Industrial Chiller Manufacturer. 

Do they offer a chiller warranty?

What is the turnaround time?

How are new chillers tested?

Do they provide chiller accessories and tools?

How are the chillers prepared for shipment?

Has the company been around for a while? The longer a company has been in business, the better the reputation of that company and the more trustworthy it is.

Does the chiller design use any proprietary components? Since these types of parts are typically used to control chillers, the price of that replacement part can be high. Over time, these items become obsolete and are no longer supported.

How easy is it to reach a live person? Can you quickly resolve technical and business issues over the phone?

Does the chiller manufacturer make chillers that handle the same type of application or a similar application?

Is it easy for a chiller company to conduct business? Can you discuss your application with a knowledgeable technical representative? Can you quickly get a quote issued for your project? Does the information submitted include all the information you need about the chiller you are considering?

Deal directly with the manufacturer and cut out the middleman. This will alleviate any confusion about how to configure your chiller and may save you some time and money.