Commercial HVAC chillers are a vital component of the cooling systems in place in many Atlanta, GA business facilities. Quite different from the residential air conditioners found in most homes, most people aren’t familiar with this technology.
If you are a facilities manager or developer, however, this blog is relevant to the air conditioning needs for today’s massive buildings, like warehouses, production facilities, hospitals, schools and other developments.
The commercial HVAC specialists at Estes Commercial share the basics of HVAC chilling systems for a better understanding of the equipment and how it functions.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your commercial cooling system, please get in touch with our dedicated Commercial HVAC team.
What Are Commercial HVAC Chillers?
Commercial HVAC chillers are components of chilled water air conditioning or cooling tower systems used to cool large buildings, such as commercial businesses and industrial facilities. Chillers are installed on the roof of a building or behind it.
Components in commercial HVAC chillers include:
- Condenser
- Compressor
- Evaporator
- Expansion valve
How Do Commercial HVAC Chillers Work?
In chilled water air conditioning systems, commercial chillers use cold water to achieve cooling in large buildings. Through refrigeration, the system cools water to 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit before and distributes the water throughout the facility.
Chilled water moves through a network of piping installed in the building. Once it reaches the proper destination, the corresponding air handler unit uses the cold water to produce the desired temperatures indoors.
An air handler in a chiller system may serve a single floor, multiple floors, or a dedicated tenant space. Multiple air handlers may connect to a commercial chiller system, each with their own ductwork system running from the air handler to the zone it serves.
Click Here to Book a Free Estimate for Commercial HVAC Chillers in Atlanta
Chilled Water vs. Air Source Chillers
There are also air source HVAC chillers which use air instead of water to create cooling. Air source chillers are typically used in smaller buildings, while chilled water chillers are used in larger facilities.
Chilled water chillers are usually more energy efficient than their air source counterparts. Air source chillers lose efficiency when chilled air travel long distances between the chiller and the area they serve, as well as when one chiller serves multiple zones.
Why Choose a Commercial Chiller System?
Compared to packaged HVAC units used in commercial buildings, commercial HVAC chillers offer a few key advantages:
- Chiller systems offer better energy efficiency as they minimize ductwork and associated energy loss.
- Commercial chillers are more easily controlled.
- HVAC Chillers offer a longer service life of over 20 years, compared to about 15 years for a commercial packaged system.
- Because chiller system equipment does not need to be housed together, these systems offer better square footage use. This is useful for commercial facilities, where floor space is at a premium.
Estes Commercial Brings the Cool with Commercial HVAC Chillers
With a better understanding of commercial HVAC chillers, business owners make informed decisions for cooling system equipment installation and upgrades.
The commercial cooling experts of Estes Services are here to assist our commercial clients with reliable information and high-quality equipment and service. We aim to help you achieve the highest level of comfort and energy savings within your Atlanta, GA area commercial facility.
So contact us today to discuss your cooling system needs. We travel to commercial facilities throughout the greater Atlanta area, including Dunwoody, Druid Hills, Decatur, Johns Creek and Marietta.
You’ll also find us in Midtown, Bucktown, Roswell, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Kennesaw, Virginia Highland and Sandy Springs.