When a chiller wins an industry award, engineers should look beyond capacity and brochure COP.
This article shares a technical perspective on why certain chillers perform better in real buildings, not just in laboratory conditions.
This approach reflects how engineering topics are explored at ClimaLogic — focusing on operation, reliability, and long-term behavior.
Dual Circuits: Built-In Resilience
A dual-circuit chiller contains two independent refrigeration circuits within one machine.
Why it matters:
If one circuit is unavailable, the chiller continues operating at partial capacity — avoiding total cooling loss.
Example:
A 2,000 TR chiller with two 1,000 TR circuits can remain online during maintenance or partial failure, a critical advantage in hospitals and airports.
Counterflow Heat Exchangers: More Cooling from the Same ΔT
Counterflow design allows refrigerant and water to move in opposite directions, maintaining a higher average temperature difference across the heat exchanger.
Why engineers care:
Higher evaporating temperatures mean lower compressor lift and reduced energy consumption.
Rule of thumb:
Every 1°C increase in evaporating temperature can improve efficiency by approximately 2–3%.
Magnetic Bearing Compressors: Removing Mechanical Losses
Magnetic bearing compressors levitate the shaft using electromagnetic fields, eliminating mechanical contact and oil systems.
What this enables:
- No friction losses
- No oil fouling
- Excellent part-load efficiency
- Quiet, low-vibration operation
This is especially valuable in buildings that operate most of the year at partial load.
RideThrough: Cooling Through Power Disturbances
RideThrough capability allows a chiller to remain operational during short voltage dips or momentary power interruptions.
Example:
During a brief ATS transfer, a conventional chiller trips. A RideThrough-enabled chiller continues running with no loss of cooling.
For mission-critical facilities, this is about continuity — not efficiency.
RapidRestore: Fast Return to Operation
If a shutdown does occur, RapidRestore allows magnetic bearing chillers to restart within minutes rather than tens of minutes.
Typical impact:
Reduced downtime, fewer alarms, and less stress on operators and equipment.
Closing Thought
Advanced chillers are no longer defined by size alone.
They are defined by how well they handle part-load operation, electrical disturbances, and real-world constraints.
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