A chiller in layman’s term can be described as vital cooling device often utilized in labs. It’s an essential part of any laboratory as it helps facilitate a lot of operation within the confined surroundings of the laboratory. One notable function of the chiller is to transfer heat by removing it from a particular content to another. A good example of this is when the chiller removes heat from ambient water to air.

In general, a chiller is a device that works through compressions in order to control and cool a liquid’s temperature. It’s the opposite of an air conditioner which uses similar methods but used for cooling air instead of water. A chiller consists of complementary parts such as re-circulating pumps, reservoirs and temperature control airs.

The different varieties of chillers in existence

• Chillers are classified according to different factors. It’s this factors that define their function and purpose. Some of the main factors used when defining different types of chillers include size, portability and functions among many others. Some of the types of chillers are
• Water Cooled chillers: they function by absorbing heat from the water being processed and transfer it to an external medium most preferably a cooling tower or river. They are highly energy efficient and most popular among people who are looking for devices with low energy consumption. They are commonly used in labs where the heat present in the air affects the temperature of the liquids being processed.
• Air Cooled Chillers: they function by absorbing heat from the water being processed and release or transfer it into the air. They are far much easier to use as compared to water cooled chillers and require little maintenance if any. The only drawback is that they utilize approximately 10% more energy. They are popular equipment in environments where heat generated isn’t a factor.  

Common functions of a chiller

• The function of a chiller in a lab is quite easy to comprehend. Fluids such as ethylene or water are filled into the chillers reservoir. The sole purpose is to have a medium that can be re-circulated. It’s this mediums that will act as tools that transfer heat from one area to another once the chiller’s reservoir is connected to its respective location and energy or power is supplied to the device. The controller is then used to regulate the temperatures.
• Parameters such as pressure, flow and temperature can be monitored and set depending on the user’s preference. The strainer found inside the device is responsible for keeping foreign and harmful substances from getting into contact with the system.

Areas where the functions of a chiller are applicable

• Chillers can be used in the printing industry to extract the heat discharged by printing rollers. They can similarly be used to lower the temperature of the paper after it has been released from the machine.
• This equipment lowers the temperature of its power source and lasers
• They can be found inside sophisticated diagnostic devices such as PET or MRI
• They can be found in the plastic industry. They can lower the temperature of the heavy machine used to make the plastic. They also lower the temperature of the hot plastic being produced.