Types of Chiller System

Types of Chiller Systems: Complete Guide

Chillers are refrigeration systems that remove heat from a process fluid — typically water or a water-glycol mixture — and reject it to the environment. There are several types of chiller systems, classified by condenser cooling method, compressor type, and application. This guide covers all major chiller types to help engineers and procurement teams select the right system for their project.

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1. Classification by Condenser Type

Air Cooled Chillers

Air cooled chillers reject heat from the refrigerant directly to the outdoor air using condenser fans. No cooling tower or condenser water system is required.

Capacity range: 3RT to 300RT (10kW to 1,050kW)
Best for: Sites without water supply, smaller installations, outdoor mounting
Advantages: Lower upfront cost, simpler installation, no cooling tower maintenance
Disadvantages: Lower efficiency than water cooled, capacity drops in high ambient temperatures

Water Cooled Chillers

Water cooled chillers reject heat via a shell-and-tube condenser to a cooling water circuit, which carries heat to an external cooling tower. They are more efficient than air cooled chillers, particularly for large-capacity applications.

Capacity range: 30RT to 4,500RT (105kW to 15,820kW)
Best for: Large buildings, industrial plants, district cooling
Advantages: Higher efficiency (COP 4.0–6.0), not affected by outdoor temperature
Disadvantages: Requires cooling tower, condenser pump, and water treatment

Factor	Air Cooled Chiller	Water Cooled Chiller
Typical COP	2.5 – 3.5	4.0 – 6.0
Capacity range	3RT – 300RT	30RT – 4,500RT
Cooling tower required	No	Yes
Installation complexity	Low	High
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher
Operating cost	Higher	Lower
Best for	Small/medium, no water supply	Large installations, continuous operation

2. Classification by Compressor Type

Scroll Chillers

Scroll chillers use hermetic scroll compressors — typically two or more operating in tandem. They are quiet, reliable, and require minimal maintenance. Best suited for small to medium cooling loads with relatively stable demand.

Capacity range: 3RT to 180RT
Compressor brands: Copeland, Danfoss, Invotech, Daikin
Best for: Food & beverage, injection molding, laser cooling, small HVAC

Screw Chillers

Screw chillers use twin-screw compressors with stepless capacity modulation via variable frequency drive (VFD). They deliver excellent part-load efficiency and are suited to applications with variable cooling demand.

Capacity range: 50RT to 4,500RT
Compressor brands: Hanbell, Bitzer, FUSHENG
Best for: Industrial process cooling, large HVAC, data centers, district cooling

Centrifugal Chillers

Centrifugal chillers use a centrifugal compressor (impeller) and are designed for very large-scale cooling applications. They achieve the highest efficiency at full load and are the preferred choice for district cooling and large central plant.

Capacity range: 300RT to 4,500RT+
Best for: Hospitals, airports, district cooling, large hotels

Compressor Type	Capacity Range	Part Load Efficiency	Best Application
Scroll	3RT – 180RT	Good (step unloading)	Small/medium process cooling
Screw	50RT – 4,500RT	Excellent (VFD stepless)	Industrial & large HVAC
Centrifugal	300RT – 4,500RT+	Best at full load	District cooling, large central plant

3. Classification by Application

Process Chillers

Process chillers provide precise temperature control for industrial manufacturing processes. They operate at fixed setpoint temperatures, often below standard HVAC ranges, and must maintain stable temperature regardless of varying process loads.

Temperature range: -45°C to +25°C
Applications: Injection molding, pharmaceutical, chemical, food processing, laser cooling

HVAC Chillers

HVAC chillers provide chilled water for building air conditioning systems. They supply air handling units (AHUs) and fan coil units (FCUs) at standard chilled water temperatures of 6–12°C.

Temperature range: 5°C to 15°C (standard chilled water)
Applications: Office buildings, hotels, hospitals, shopping malls

Glycol Chillers

Glycol chillers use a water-glycol mixture as the secondary coolant, allowing operation below 0°C without freezing. Essential for food processing, brewing, ice rinks, and any application requiring sub-zero temperatures.

Temperature range: -45°C to +10°C
Applications: Brewing, food processing, ice rinks, pharmaceutical

Low Temperature Chillers

Low temperature chillers use cascade refrigeration systems to achieve outlet temperatures as low as -145°C. Used in pharmaceutical, chemical, and research applications requiring ultra-low temperatures.

Temperature range: -145°C to -20°C
Applications: Pharmaceutical R&D, chemical processing, cryogenic applications

4. How to Choose the Right Chiller Type

Your Situation	Recommended Chiller Type
Small process cooling, no cooling tower	Air cooled scroll chiller (3–100RT)
Medium industrial process, no cooling tower	Air cooled screw chiller (50–300RT)
Large industrial process, cooling tower available	Water cooled screw chiller (50–4,500RT)
Sub-zero process temperature required	Glycol chiller or low temperature chiller
Building HVAC, central plant	Water cooled screw or centrifugal chiller
District cooling, 500RT+	Water cooled centrifugal chiller
High ambient temperature (>43°C)	High-ambient air cooled chiller or water cooled

Geson Chiller — All Types Available

Geson manufactures all major types of chiller systems from our factory in Nanjing, China. All units are CE and ISO 9001 certified, factory-tested before shipment, and shipped globally with 30-day lead time.

Chiller Type	Capacity	Link
Water Cooled Screw & Scroll Chillers	3RT – 4,500RT	View Product
Air Cooled Screw & Scroll Chillers	3RT – 300RT	View Product
Glycol Refrigeration Systems	3RT – 300RT	Learn More
Low Temperature Chillers	3RT – 200RT	Enquire