CHILLER WORKING PRINCIPLE – SIMPLIFIED

 CHILLER WORKING PRINCIPLE – SIMPLIFIED

A chiller removes heat from water to produce chilled water for air conditioning. It works on the refrigeration cycle — just like your fridge, but bigger and more complex.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Evaporator

 → Warm return water from the building enters the evaporator. 

→ The refrigerant absorbs this heat and evaporates. 

→ Now you get chilled water (~6–7°C) sent back to AHUs/FCUs. 

2. Compressor

 → Vaporized refrigerant is compressed, increasing its pressure and temperature. 

→ This step consumes the most power.

3. Condenser 

→ The hot, high-pressure refrigerant releases heat to air (in air-cooled) or water (in water-cooled). 

→ The refrigerant condenses back into liquid.

4. Expansion Valve 

→ The liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve. 

→ Pressure drops, temperature drops. 

→ It’s now ready to absorb heat again in the evaporator.

This cycle repeats continuously.