A chilled water system is a cooling system that uses water to remove heat from a building or space. It's often used in commercial and industrial buildings, such as hotels, hospitals, airports, factories, shopping malls, and data centers.
Here are some key features of chilled water systems:
- How it works: A chiller extracts heat from water, which is then circulated through a system of pipes and pumps. The chilled water is sent through a heat exchanger in an air conditioning device, which lowers the temperature of the coil.
- Temperature: Chilled water systems typically have a temperature range of 6-12 deg C or 5-11 deg C.
- Water mixture: The water in the pipes is usually a mixture of water and glycol to prevent freezing.
- Efficiency: Chilled water systems are often more efficient than single-pass cooling because the water is recirculated.
- Utility-supplied chilled water: A utility can operate a large chilled water system more economically than individual buildings can operate their own systems.