Process Chiller Industrial Applications > Refrigeration Cycle

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By: Matthew McKernan

A process chiller is a type of water chiller that is used in many industrial applications, and uses a refrigerant such as ammonia or hydrocarbons to achieve a higher level of cooling. These chillers have the ability to cool up to two hundred tons of fluid at a time if they are central chillers, and up to forty if they are portable. Central process chillers tend to have an operating range between negative thirty and positive sixty five degrees Fahrenheit. In this article, we'll take a look at the process behind these remarkable machines, so that readers can get a better understanding of how they work, as well as how they are used in everyday life.

Process chillers are made up of four key components - the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, and the metering device. A process chiller works by using a technique called vapor compression, also known as the absorption refrigeration cycle. The compressor is the part of the machine used to push fluid through the machine to a heat source. Once at the heat source the fluid sucks up heat and carries it to the evaporator, where it undergoes a phase change into a gaseous state. This gaseous state makes it easier for the fluid to disperse heat into the atmosphere, sometimes through a cooling tower for achieving lower temperatures.

Once the heat is dispersed, the vapor moves to the condenser, where it is turned back into a liquid. The liquid is finally sent back to the compressor to be pushed through the cycle again. The metering device acts as a way to regulate the level of flow and amount of liquid being used. Process chillers can be used in a number of industrial applications, such as in the plastics industry, where it is used to regulate temperatures during molding. It is used in baking during the creation of dough, as cooler water allows for longer mixing. It's even used in ice skating rinks to keep the floor temperature at the desired coolness.

Chances are you might not notice process chillers in your everyday life, but they are certainly making an impact on it. Their effects can be seen in the food you eat, the air you breathe, and the water you drink. A process chiller is an important part of various types of industrial manufacturing techniques, as well as air conditioning for larger commercial and institutional facilities.