For the air conditioning of large buildings, the chiller-fan coil system is most often used. It has many advantages, including an almost unlimited distance between the main elements, the ability to serve many spacious rooms using a single chiller, and a relatively low cost of equipment.
What is the principle of the chiller
Chillers are called refrigeration units, which are one of the main elements of air conditioning systems. They are used in combination with fan coil units - a special type of heat exchanger.
Despite the fact that chillers are refrigeration machines, some of them can not only reduce, but also increase the temperature of the coolant, therefore, systems supplemented with such devices are also used to warm up the air.
Chillers can work with different types of heat transfer fluids, including water and freon. Their design can also vary. However, most of these devices have a common operating principle. When the coolant enters the chiller, the compressor compresses it and “takes” the heat. Then the heat transfer fluid moves to another part of the installation, expands, turns into gas, and cools. After that, through special pipes, it enters the heat exchangers - fan coil units, cools the air and returns to the chiller again. The process is repeated over and over.
Please note: chillers only cool or warm up the coolant, but do not add fresh air from the street. This means that they are used in air conditioning systems, not ventilation, and the premises where this equipment is used must be additionally ventilated.
What are chillers
There are air and water cooled chillers. In the first case, the optimum temperature of the compressor is maintained by cold air, which the equipment takes from the room or from the street and, after use, throws it out through special pipelines. In the second case, artesian, running water or a circulating water supply system is used to cool the elements.
Devices of the second type are cheaper and differ in a relatively simple design, however, unfortunately, sometimes their use turns out to be difficult due to problems with the installation of a water system.
Most chillers use electricity to operate. However, in cases where power outages occur, or when you need to save money, you can choose absorption models. They operate on waste: superheated steam, fuel oil, waste oil. This type of chiller is often not very environmentally friendly, but it allows you to provide an optimal microclimate in conditions of frequent problems with the electricity supply.