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.

The core components of a chiller unit include a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and throttling device. The compressor is responsible for compressing the refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure gas, while the condenser cools the high-temperature and high-pressure gas into high-pressure liquid through cooling water or air, releasing heat into the environment. Subsequently, the high-pressure liquid is depressurized through a throttling device and enters the evaporator, where it absorbs heat and evaporates, thereby reducing the temperature of the cooling water. Finally, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant vapor is sucked in again by the compressor, starting a new cycle.

Environmental protection and energy conservation are important directions for the future development of chillers, and adopting more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies will become mainstream. To meet the diverse industrial production needs, the chiller will adopt modular design to achieve rapid combination and replacement of different functions and specifications, while providing customized services. The application of digital technology and intelligent algorithms will optimize the design and manufacturing process of chillers, improve performance and quality, and reduce production costs and cycles.

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.