According to different cooling methods, chillers can be divided into two types: water-cooled and air-cooled. Water cooled chillers use cooling towers or cooling water systems to dissipate heat, which have advantages such as high refrigeration efficiency and stable operation, but require additional cooling water systems and space. The air-cooled chiller unit, on the other hand, directly dissipates the heat from the condenser into the air through a fan, without the need for an additional cooling water system. However, it is greatly affected by environmental temperature, and the refrigeration efficiency may be slightly lower.

Water cooled chillers are usually more efficient and operate quieter than air-cooled chillers. Suitable for small and commercial cooling, portable solutions can be provided for facilities with limited space. With the development of technology, industrial water coolers adopt more environmentally friendly and energy-saving refrigeration technologies, such as carbon dioxide refrigeration and heat pipe technology.