Type Capacity Refrigeran Condensin COP Power Characteristics &
t g media Demand Applications
tons , kW/ton
Reciprocating Positive displacement
Semi- 10 - 200 HCFC -22 Water 4.7 0.7 -0.8 compression, generally
hermetic noisier and uses more
Open 10 -150 HCFC -22 Water 4.7 0.7 -0.8 power than rotary-type
Semi- 10 - 200 HCFC -22 Air 4.7 1.2 -1.4 compressors.
hermetic
Open 10 -100 HFC - Air 4.7 1.2 -1.4 Not appropriate if precise
134a temperature control is
required.
Commercial/ industrial
cooling systems up to 200
tons with water or air
cooled condensers
Rotary (Scroll & Screw) Rotary chillers use single-
Hermetic 70 - 500 HCFC -22 Water 4.7 0.6 -0.8 screw or twin-screw
Open 100 - HCFC -22 Water 4.4 0.6 -0.8 compressors.
500
HFC - Water 4.7 0.6 -0.8 A positive displacement
134a machine well suited to
high-pressure refrigerants.
Hermetic 20 - 500 HCFC -22 Water 4.4 0.6 -0.8
Provide significant
HFC - Air 4.7 1.2 -1.4 operational energy savings
134a because they can match
full load or part load as
small as 10 percent of the
chiller's capacity.
Scroll chillers are available
only in small capacities up
to 50 tons.
Commercial and Industrial
cooling systems up to 450
tons with water or air-
cooled condensers.
Engineer Ehab Tuffaha
Centrifugal Centrifugal chillers use
turbo-compressors with
Direct- 100- HCFC - Water 4.8 0.55- impellers that have high
driven 3900 123 0.65 volumetric capacities
hermetic because the flow of the
Open 150- HCFC - Water 4.8 0.55-0.7 refrigerant is continuous
gear 7000 123 rather than intermittent.
drive HFC - Water 4.4 0.55-0.7
134a Commercial and industrial
cooling systems up to 8000
Hermetic 100- HCFC - Water 4.8 0.55-0.7 tons with water-cooled
gear 2000 123 condensers only.
drive HFC - Water 4.4 0.55-0.7
134a
Absorption Chillers* Commercial and industrial
cooling systems generally
used where heat/waste
heat source is available.
Direct 100 - Water Water 1.0
fired 1600
Indirect 75 - Water Water 0.6
fired, 2000 (singl
Steam/h e
ot water stage
)
Indirect 75 - Water Water 1.2
fired 2000 (two
stage
Steam/h )
ot water
*Absorption chillers are heat-operated devices that produce chilled water via an absorption cycle.
These are not very common in commercial buildings and are used in industrial applications where
heat source is available. Absorption chillers can be direct-fired, using natural gas or fuel oil, or
indirect-fired. Indirect-fired units may use different sources for heat: hot water or steam from a
boiler, steam from district heating, or waste heat in the form of water, air, or other gas. Absorption
Engineer Ehab Tuffaha
