Is it better to choose air-cooled or water-cooled chiller?

With the increasing application of industrial chillers, such as: plastic industry, petrochemical industry, electronics industry, vacuum coating, etc. will use industrial chillers. Its applicable places have increased, and the specifications and models of manufacturers and chillers are also increasing. You need to master some skills on how to buy chillers. Today, we will analyze the differences between water-cooled chillers and air-cooled chillers for industry friends, so that you no longer have to worry about whether to choose water-cooled chillers or air-cooled chillers when purchasing chillers.

First of all, the chiller is a multifunctional refrigeration equipment that removes the liquid vapor engine through a compression or heat absorption refrigeration cycle. Air-cooled chillers air-cooled chiller and water-cooled chillers are divided according to the different cooling forms of the chillers.

Appearance identification method: The chiller with a fan installed on the top or side is an air-cooled chiller. Equipped with a round yellow water tower is a water-cooled chiller. Their difference lies in the way of heat dissipation. The air-cooled chiller uses its own fan and air exchange to achieve heat dissipation. The water-cooled chiller requires auxiliary equipment: cooling towers and water pumps for heat dissipation.


The air-cooled chiller does not require a cooling tower. It is relatively simple to install, easy to maintain, and more convenient to move. It is suitable for occasions where water sources are relatively scarce. And it does not require a special water cooling system, and is suitable for some small offices, shops and other places.

The water-cooled chiller uses water for cooling and has a better heat dissipation effect. It is suitable for places with high ambient temperature or long-term continuous operation, such as factories and hospitals.

Since the air-cooled machine uses fans to dissipate heat, it has very high requirements on the surrounding environment such as ventilation, humidity, and temperature. The water-cooled chiller has more stable operation, less cooling loss, easy oil return, and the heat transfer tube is less likely to freeze and crack, which is more energy efficient than the air-cooled machine. However, the water cooler occupies a large area, and the price is much higher than that of the air cooler.

Therefore, when choosing a chiller, factors such as the temperature of the use environment, ventilation, and cooling requirements need to be considered. At the same time, considering the convenience of installation and maintenance, as well as the comprehensive evaluation of heat dissipation effects and other factors, the suitable chiller can be selected according to the cooling capacity.