Chillers are widely used for two main needs:
- Large Scale AC System. Used in high-rise buildings, malls, hospitals, airports, and hotels to cool rooms massively and efficiently.
- Industrial Process Chiller. Used to maintain the temperature of machines or production processes stable, such as in the plastic industry (injection molding machines), food/beverage industry, pharmaceuticals, lasers, and even data centers.
Types of chillers:
- Air-Cooled Chiller (Pendingin Udara)
Air-Cooled Chiller (Pendingin Udara) of this type utilizes outside air to cool the refrigerant in its condenser. This unit is equipped with a large fan on its top.
Advantages: Easier installation, no need for a cooling tower, and space-saving (usually placed on the building rooftop or open area).
Disadvantages: Electricity consumption tends to be higher compared to water-cooled types at the same capacity, and its performance is affected by the outside air temperature.
Water-Cooled Chiller. This type of chiller uses water to cool its condenser. The hot water from the condenser is then circulated and cooled again using a Cooling Tower.
Advantages: Very efficient in energy consumption (high COP) and has a much larger cooling capacity. Suitable for long-term use in large buildings.
Disadvantages: Requires a large space (for the chiller plant and cooling tower), the piping system is more complex, and requires regular water treatment to prevent algae or scale buildup.