Common Cooling Equipment
Cooling is essential for a wide variety of applications, from industrial and commercial processes to medical treatments. The most common cooling equipment falls into two categories: cooling towers and chillers.
Cooling towers are used to reduce the temperature of fluids (water or air) drawn from coolants, process streams, condensers, and heat rejection systems. They are typically large, open structures that use direct contact between the coolant and the air to transfer heat and cool down the liquid. Cooling towers work by passing the warm liquid through a large part of the structure, usually made of plastic or metal, with large exposed surfaces. The hot liquid evaporates, transferring its heat to the cooler outside environment, cooling the remaining liquid before it is recycled back into the system.
Chillers are another type of cooling equipment, and they are often used along with cooling towers in industrial processes. They are sometimes used in power plants and other large-scale machinery, but they are often found in commercial buildings to provide indoor air cooling. Chillers use the principles of evaporation and condensation to achieve cooling. Evaporation occurs when the warm liquid evaporates, transferring heat from the liquid to the surrounding environment. Condensation occurs when the heated vapor is cooled, converting the vapor back into liquid form and releasing remaining heat.
Chillers are more efficient than cooling towers due to their ability to recycle the energy they use. Each time the chilled liquid is passed through the chiller, more heat is removed from the liquid, making it even cooler. This can help to save energy in industrial operations as the chillers dont have to work as hard and require less energy to maintain a consistently cool temperature.
Both cooling towers and chillers are vital pieces of equipment in industrial and commercial operations. They are used in many different types of processes and applications, from large industrial processes to medical treatments to air conditioning systems. In order to achieve the desired cooling level, it is important to select the right equipment for the job. Working with a qualified engineer can help to ensure the proper cooling equipment for your application is selected and installed.
