A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid through an vapor compression, adsorption refrigeration, or absorption refrigeration cycles. This liquid can then be moved through a heat exchanger to cool equipment. Refrigeration makes waste heat as a byproduct that must be removed from it or for greater efficiency it can be recovered for heating purposes.[1] Vapor compression chillers may use any of a number of different types of compressors.The most used today are the hermetic scroll, semi-hermetic screw, or centrifugal compressors. The condensing side of the chiller can be either air or water-cooled. The chiller is often cooled by an induced or forced draft cooling tower. Absorption and adsorption chillers need a heat source to work.[2][3]
Chilled water is used to cool and dehumidify air. This is used in large commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. For example, schools, hospitals, and factories. Water-cooled chillers can be liquid-cooled (through cooling towers), air-cooled, or evaporatively cooled. Water or liquid-cooled systems can be more efficient and have environmental impact advantages over air-cooled systems.[4]