Cold Water Systems & Chillers
The Flexible Solution for Process and Building Cooling
Chillers are the backbone of modern building air conditioning and industrial process cooling. The principle is as simple as it is thermodynamically ingenious: The refrigeration cycle is confined to the generator unit, while a neutral coolant (water or brine) circulates within the building. cold.world ENGINEERING designs highly efficient chilled water systems that are precisely hydraulically balanced and—whenever possible—use refrigerants with minimal global warming potential, such as propane (R290) or ammonia (NH₃).
Why are more and more industrial companies opting for chilled water units instead of direct refrigerant lines? The answer lies in the optimal combination of system reliability and design flexibility.
Minimum refrigerant charge: The refrigerant is contained compactly and safely within the chiller (which is often installed outdoors). Only water or brine circulates within the building itself. This drastically minimizes potential hazards and regulatory inspection requirements.
Ideal for propane (R290): Since the refrigerant does not enter the occupied spaces, chilled water systems are the perfect technological platform for using thermodynamically highly efficient propane (GWP = 3) in a completely safe and code-compliant manner.
Enormous savings potential through “free cooling”: During the cooler months (fall/winter), outside air can cool the refrigerant without requiring the energy-intensive compressors to run. This significantly reduces the annual average primary energy demand.
Easy expandability: A chilled water system can be easily expanded or modified hydraulically without having to interfere with the sensitive refrigeration circuit.
Our Engineering Services: More Than Just Installing the Chiller
A chiller is only as efficient as the piping system behind it. As an engineering firm, we don’t simply provide “off-the-shelf” solutions; instead, we design a perfectly coordinated complete system.
Hydraulic Design & System Calculations: We size piping, buffer tanks, and pump sets precisely according to your actual load profile. A thorough hydraulic balancing prevents undersupply and minimizes pump power consumption.
Focus on Natural Refrigerants (R290 & R717): We prefer to design chiller systems that circumvent the regulatory phase-down. Air-cooled propane chillers (R290), in particular, offer outstanding efficiency today. For high industrial capacities, we rely on ammonia (NH₃).
Integration of Free Cooling Systems: We integrate free cooling systems into the control and measurement technology so that your chiller shuts down when outdoor temperatures are low and the ambient air takes over this function. This is the most effective way to reduce operating costs.
Applications for Our Cold Water Solutions
- Industrial Process Cooling:
Reliable temperature control for machines, lasers, plastic injection molding, and extruders. - Building Air Conditioning:
Supply of ceiling cooling systems, chilled ceilings, or fan coils in office complexes and hotels. - Data Centers / Server Rooms:
Fail-safe and highly available cooling with detailed redundancy concepts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chillers
Where is the safest place to install a propane-powered chiller?
Since propane (R290) is flammable (safety class A3), we generally design these chillers for outdoor installation, such as on flat roofs or open areas. The key advantage is that the refrigerant remains entirely outside the building. By properly designating small explosion-protected zones around the unit, operation is completely safe and compliant with standards (DIN EN 378).
Do I need glycol in the water?
If parts of the system (e.g., the rooftop chiller or the recooler) are exposed to freezing temperatures, an antifreeze agent (glycol) is necessary to prevent the pipes from freezing in the winter or during downtime. We can advise you on the correct concentration to minimize efficiency losses.
Schedule an Initial Consultation
Schedule a free initial consultation now.