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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · HVAC

Chiller

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/ˈtʃɪlər/nounCommon term

In mechanical engineering, chiller means: A refrigeration machine that cools water or a water-glycol mixture, which is then pumped to air handling units, fan coils or process equipment.

In Turkish: soğutma grubu, su soğutma grubu, chiller

How it is used

Used in large buildings, hospitals, data centers and factories. Chillers are air-cooled or water-cooled (with a cooling tower). Engineers talk about chilled water supply and return temperatures, capacity in kW or tons and efficiency values such as EER or COP.

Example sentences

  1. The chiller supplies water at 7 °C and gets it back at 12 °C.

  2. We need a second chiller for redundancy in the data center.

Common collocations

  • air-cooled chiller
  • water-cooled chiller
  • chilled water
  • chiller capacity
  • chiller plant
  • HVACShort for heating, ventilation and air conditioning: the systems that control temperature, humidity and air quality in buildings, vehicles and industrial spaces.
  • refrigerantThe working fluid in a refrigeration or air conditioning system. It absorbs heat when it evaporates and releases heat when it condenses; R-32 and R-134a are examples.
  • compressorA machine that increases the pressure of a gas, such as air or a refrigerant, by reducing its volume. It is driven by an electric motor or an engine.
  • cooling loadThe amount of heat that must be removed from a space to keep it at the design temperature and humidity. It comes from the sun, people, lights, equipment and outdoor air.
  • air handling unitA large HVAC unit that filters, heats or cools, sometimes humidifies, and moves air through a building's ductwork, using fans, filters, coils and dampers.

More terms: HVAC

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