While most industrial process chillers come in packaged air-cooled and water-cooled systems, there is yet another type of unit to consider: split system chillers. With two distinct and separately installed sections, split system chillers feature an indoor evaporator and compressor and an outdoor air-cooled condenser. Available in single, dual, and tandem circuit configurations, split system chillers are a unique alternative for companies whose application environments cannot accommodate traditional packaged systems.
Read on to learn more about when to choose split system chillers, how they’re installed, and the various benefits they offer.
When to choose split system chillers
Split system chillers are reserved for extraordinarily specific circumstances when neither packaged air-cooled or water-cooled chillers will do the job. There are two primary factors to consider when determining whether a split system chiller is right for you, both having to do with your application environment.
Consider split system chillers if your application environment satisfies the following criteria:
- Your application environment cannot accommodate a packaged water-cooled chiller, either due to a lack of continual water access or high humidity
- Your application environment has poor ventilation that prohibits a packaged air-cooled chiller
If you meet these criteria, air-cooled split system chillers may be the best industrial cooling solution to ensure your medical, industrial, brewery, dairy, or food processing equipment stays up and running.
How split system chillers are installed?
Split system chillers have two distinct sections of components installed in separate areas. The first section comprises the evaporator and compressor, which are installed indoors. The second section is the air-cooled condenser, which is installed outdoors, where it can maximize ventilation.
First section components: Evaporator and compressor
First section installation location: Indoors
Second section components: Condenser
Second section installation location: Outdoors
The installation process for split system chillers includes an additional step that isn’t required for traditional packaged air-cooled chillers that are already pre-charged. A contractor must plumb the split system chiller’s refrigerant piping by installing liquid and suction copper refrigerant lines from the indoor evaporator to the outdoor condenser. After the two sections are plumbed together, they work as a cohesive unit to deliver industrial process cooling.
3 Benefits of split system chillers:
If you’re considering a split system chiller for your application environment, check out the following three benefits specific to these specialized systems:
- Freeze protection not required – With an indoor evaporator, there’s no need to deploy freeze protective strategies that are usually associated with outdoor units, including using glycol, draining the system, and running pumps throughout the winter.
- Reduced noise – Indoor condensers in traditional air-cooled chillers can produce higher noise levels because of the cooling fans. The outdoor condenserof split system chillers will reduce the volume indoors, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments.
- Extended lifespan – Any time an industrial chiller’s component is installed outdoors, where it’s exposed to the elements, the unit’s lifespan can shorten. With an indoor evaporator and compressor, air-cooled split system chillers may last longer than a traditional packaged air-cooled system where all components are outdoors.
When an application environment cannot accommodate either a packaged air-cooled or water-cooled industrial chiller, air-cooled split system chillers may be the ideal solution for your industrial cooling needs.
We offer a robust line of custom-ready, engineered split system chillers ranging from 1.5 to 200 tons, with many units available for quick delivery. As an industry leader with over 40 years of industrial process cooling experience and a proven 99.4% uptime rate, we’ve perfected the goal of keeping your equipment going strong.
Contact our team to learn more about our air-cooled split system chillers or request a quote online.