Chiller Basics - How they work

This video guides you through the basic operation of a chiller, making use of animations, illustrations, 3D models and real world photographs to help build your understanding.
This covers the basics of a centrifugal chiller in a typical office building. By the end you should be able to identify the main components and the main circuits of a chiller. There is a short test at the end also.

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[EngineeringMindset]

⚠️ *Found this video super useful?* Buy Paul a coffee to say thanks: ☕

[leszekkowalczyk]

I was looking in internet, bought one book, took part in one day course, bought another book and all these trials have not given me the explantion which you provided in 15 minutes video. Great thanks from Poland :)

[hiseminencetheholymacdiarmada]

I Needed a sort of refresher. I’m going from residential HVAC-R systems to large industrial chillers for a new job. This video was perfect! Thanks!!

[d.c.robinson]

Thank you for this video. As a hotel engineer just starting out in this field, this was very simplistic and to the point for understanding how it works.

[elioasjunior]

I've studied this back on my technical and my graduation courses, but I've never really absorbed the principles. After some years here I am again, learning thermal cycles and getting fascinated haha. Thank you so much for this content. :)

[zaraknadeem]

Im a civil engineer and wanted to appreciate your efforts and video!
thank you for explaining this in such a simple and direct manner!

[marcoloh]

i normally search for a 2-3min brief introduction on a chiller system, but 16mins on this video worth my time for an hour searching.

[skylerclyne]

Thank you so much for this- my dad worked in these plants but he treated the water that runs through these systems. He passed in early January ‘22 and while I did a lot of his lab work I don’t have as much of a mechanical background and I really appreciate this because it helps me understand what I’m working with when I walk into a mechanical room.

[EtsedJayel]

Man, I'm currently studying for a Building Physics exam and your videos are helping me a lot! Incredibly well done, perfect and plain explanations, and the accuracy of the models is astonishing! Thanks for these videos! :D

[imranahmed]

00:06 A chiller is a large machinery used to generate cool water for air-conditioning in buildings.
01:55 Chillers transfer heat using a refrigerant and cooling tower to provide cooling for buildings.
04:14 A chiller has four main components: evaporator, condenser, compressor, and expansion valve.
06:23 Chilled water loop is responsible for collecting heat from the building
08:18 A chiller works by circulating refrigerant and water through different circuits
10:27 The chiller has four main components: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator.
12:40 Chiller Basics - How they work
14:53 Chilled water enters and leaves the system while refrigerant circulates throughout.

[valeriepierre]

The most helpful video on the subject I was able to find, and I have been looking for a long time. Thank you!

[jasonhwang]

I'm a mechanical engineer designing nuclear power plant HVAC system and I'm charge on the chiller system. It is very helpful for me to understand the chiller system. Thank you:)

[jakemurray]

Awesome tutorial! I’ve been a Commercial HVAC Sheet Metal installer for the last 4 years of my career right out of HVAC trade school. And I now got the opportunity to work for Ingersoll Rand Trane doing chiller work. Very excited to get into the Industial side of things!

[SunknFish]

I just saw a large chiller room today, and having seen this incredibly clear and descriptive video was helpful for me to actually know what I was looking at. Thank you!

[ethanjaykrueger]

Landed a chiller job with Johnson controls!! I start Monday 💪🏼💴💴💴

[ggm]

Thank you for being patient enough to break this down for a clearer understanding of how a chiller works 💯

[gabrielaldana]

you are emphatically a true pioneer with helping out in all of the HVACR thank you and your entire team all the best

[eyen]

Video like this is exactly what I needed. The instructions are clear and concise. Thank you.

[CHOMAHOMA]

Thank you very much for your videos. They have taught me a lot over the years. I will always watch them as I keep learning.

[stevenmaccarthy]

Well done. I am getting close to the end of a four decade (plus)career in water treatment. During that time I have always believed the representatives in this field should have a good grasp of Chiller Basics. I find the real mystery is trying to get guys to grasp how a liquid refrigerant at 90 degrees F leaving a condenser can cool Chilled Water to 42 degrees F. Very nice job,

Steve MacCarthy
Past President
Association of Water Technologies