There are many aspects to consider while choosing what chiller would be best for a building and its cooling system. However my preference for water-cooled chillers over air-cooled is due to: 1.Higher Efficiency Air-cooled chillers have a full load Kw/ton of approx 1.25 while water-cooled chillers have a full load Kw/ton of between 0.55 and 0.8 .Lower Kw/ton indicates higher efficiency. 2.Lower operating costs Water-cooled chillers have an improved thermodynamic effectiveness as compared to air-cooled chillers. This is due to the heat rejection at or near the air's WBT rather than the higher DBT and thus water-cooled chillers can take the advantage of lower condensing temperatues than air-cooled chillers.
By
Jay Sreen, Freelancer, Construction
| 05 18 2011 12:40:48 +0000
Dont agree with your last point. Even after accounting for the KW draw of the cooling tower fans and condenser water pumps, water-cooled chillers normally have an efficiency advantage over air-cooled. since air-cooled chillers have a full load KW/ton higher than that of a water-cooled chiller. Higher Kw/ton means lower efficiency.
By
Jay Sreen, Freelancer, Construction
| 05 18 2011 09:03:24 +0000
I will not support any chillers (air/water), it totally depends on the designer & client requirement i.e. Client's budget, aim of investment etc & designers heat load value, if cooling load required higher than 325-350TR than he has to think for the water cooled as manufacturer like Carrier have only max upto 325-350TR in air cooled chiller. consider one example if client requirement is to make shopping mall & it's requirement is 500 TR & he will be the end user than i will prefer to go with water cooled ,if he will sale to the end user & all maintenance by the end user then i will go for air cooled chiller, it will give more profit to my client.also, it depends on the client what he want actually money or his reputation in market, so there is a lot of thing decide to choose the system. But as per technical, one should prefer to go with water cooled chiller for the 500TR or higher requirement of the system. if less than 350 TR better to go with air cooled chillers.
By
Mohammed Danish Rasheed, Sr.Mechanical Engineer-HVAC, Plumbing, Fire-Fighting, Mustang HDP
| 05 30 2010 11:59:22 +0000
For bigger capacity of HVAC load , i feel Water Cooled chillers are always benificial from energy saving point of view . Initial investment will be higher but ROI will be @ 7-8 years of operation of plant. For the plants upto 300 TR of total load , air cooled chillers are prefered.
By
KAMLESH HARHARE, MEP CONSULTANT, ARCHGROUP CONSULTANT
| 09 23 2009 19:17:25 +0000
For higher temperature water cooled is more effective then air cooled.
By
attar singh, Dy.G M, Adani Infrastructure and Developers Pvt. Ltd.(adani group)
| 09 08 2008 07:32:00 +0000
For larger proccss unit Water cooled chillers are essential like centralised air condition system of a mall or office building.But in smaller units ,air coolled chillers can be used. So it totally depends on the reqirements.
By
Abhishek Mojumder, Planning Engineer
| 08 25 2008 01:58:28 +0000
I, agree with Mr Ashok and Mr,Bundi,but still my view is that of the worst case the water chillers have the edge.
By
srinivasalu. chintamani, Dy.General Manager(projects),Sunil Mantri Realty Ltd.,
| 07 29 2008 01:56:49 +0000
Factors favouring water cooled chillers: - For heavy to medium loads.
- Greater efficiency. Though air cooled chillers are available with matching efficiency but they need huge space and large amount of heat is generated.
By
Ashok Datta, Director Projects, ProInteractive Services (India) Pvt Ltd
| 06 23 2008 09:48:33 +0000
Efficiency is a strong favour on the side of water chillers as large units bleed a lot to heat losses anyway...
By
ajay pandey, Head/VP/GM-Corporate Planning/Strategy, Simco Foundation
| 06 23 2008 05:27:53 +0000
present day to day requirement is concerned for centralised air condition system irrespective of the cost factors and disadvantages posed by water chillers ,I fully go with that system only.
By
srinivasalu. chintamani, Dy.General Manager(projects),Sunil Mantri Realty Ltd.,
| 06 23 2008 04:20:38 +0000
With what ever disadvantages Water cooled chiller systems have, I am for it as it delivers the required temperature at the user end. Now I would throw the discussion to the respectable forum to air their arguements.
By
Bandi Kanna, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 24X7 FACILITY SERVICE CONNECT PRIVATE LIMITED
| 06 22 2008 07:10:31 +0000
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In theory, yes I agree that water colled chillers are better. Leave alone places that have perenial water shortages, it is said that 3rd world war will be fought over water! 1) Then where is the water? 2) Even if a source is found today, its quality that affects the condenser fouling keeps changing 3) water source itself might have to be changed frequesntly again leading to more fouling. 4) But if you go for aircolled from day 1, air is there always, and the condenser can be cleaned ina better way to retain its efficieny. Hence from a practical point of view air cooled chillers will assure user of continuous working of a chiller, than keeping a water cooled chiller and doing pooja to it without it working!
By
SANKARA SUBRAMANIAN, Owner, AIR-O-MATIC SYSTEMS
| 02 03 2011 09:04:19 +0000
as ambient temprature is increasing every day,and %R.H is also increasing its better to go with aircooled chiller,
By
shakir akhtar hussain, Mechanical Engineer-HVAC, Arch Group int
| 09 26 2009 18:05:05 +0000
I agree with Bandi and Ashok.
By
Mallikarjuna Gupta Bhogavalli, Sr. Product Manager, Oracle India Pvt Ltd
| 07 28 2008 20:51:21 +0000
Chiller plants upto 800 KWr in capacity and operating for less than 2000 hrs per year, it is advisable to go in for Air cooled Chiller systems. The desirable transition point form Air cooled to water cooled starts at aout 400 KWr for plants operation for more than 8000hrs per year or approximately 900 KWr and below 2000hrs of operation. The ecomonic cross over point has an imprecise range which warrants project specific LCC ( life cycle costing) analyis representing particular site conditions.
By
Bandi Kanna, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 24X7 FACILITY SERVICE CONNECT PRIVATE LIMITED
| 06 23 2008 23:56:06 +0000
Following factors favour Air cooled chillers - Suitable for smaller loads.
- When the conditions to be achieved are not very severe.
- In cold climates where water will freeze.
- Saves electricity since cooling tower and condenser are avoided.
By
Ashok Datta, Director Projects, ProInteractive Services (India) Pvt Ltd
| 06 23 2008 09:45:46 +0000
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