Air Cooled vs. Water Cooled Chillers: Which is Best for Data Centers?

Which chiller type is best for data centers: air cooled, or water cooled? There’s no single answer. HVAC system designers need to ask a lot of questions before advocating one type of chiller over another. The obvious equipment choice is sometimes over-ruled by unique project factors including the available square footage, backup power strategies, local regulations limiting power and water use, or the owner’s sustainability priorities.

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Ideally, data centers will consult with the HVAC company on the front end of the design process to make sure the solution meets short- and long-term objectives. If you’re the one making the decision on behalf of a data center, it helps to understand the pros and cons that are inherent to each type of chiller.

• Capacity: Packaged air-cooled chillers are typically available in sizes ranging from 7.5 to 500 tons [25 to 1,580 kW]. Packaged water-cooled chillers are typically available from 10 to 4,000 tons [35 to 14,000 kW]. In other words, water-cooled chillers can deliver higher cooling capacity with fewer units and a smaller footprint.
• Maintenance: Air-cooled chillers eliminate the need for cooling towers. Water-cooled chillers require cooling towers, which have critical maintenance demands: water treatment, chiller condenser-tube cleaning, tower mechanical maintenance, and freeze protection. Systems that use open cooling towers must have a water treatment program to prevent contaminants such as bacteria and algae. Cooling towers also evaporate water so you will need access to a large supply of make-up water to replace the evaporated volume.
• Location: The pursuit of cheap power and lower taxes is changing the face of the data center industry, placing huge facilities in remote locations far removed from the users. If placed in a location where temperature drops below freezing, air-cooled chillers can be easier to operate, because they eliminate the problems associated with operating a cooling tower in severe winter conditions. Cooling towers may require special control sequences, basin heaters, or even an indoor sump for safe operation in freezing weather.
• Energy efficiency: Water-cooled chillers are typically more energy efficient than air-cooled chillers. The refrigerant condensing temperature in an air-cooled chiller is dependent on the ambient dry-bulb temperature. The condensing temperature in a water-cooled chiller is dependent on the condenser-water temperature, which is dependent on the ambient wet-bulb temperature. Since the wet-bulb temperature is often significantly lower than the dry-bulb temperature, the refrigerant condensing temperature (and pressure) in a water-cooled chiller can be lower than in an air-cooled chiller. The lower condensing temperature, and therefore lower condensing pressure, means that the compressor needs to do less work and, subsequently, consumes less energy. This efficiency advantage may lessen during nighttime operation because the dry-bulb temperature tends to drop faster than the wet-bulb temperature when the sun goes down.
• Delivery & Installation: Most air-cooled chillers are “packed systems.” The system, including the condenser, compressor, and evaporator, is designed and configured at the factory for optimal performance and reliability, which reduces design and delivery time and simplifies installation. Water-cooled chillers have the added complexities of condenser-water piping, pumps, cooling towers, and controls.
• Longevity: With the continued technology advances and growth in more data processing, the data center infrastructure needs to be able to support these advancements while delivering consistent performance. In general, air-cooled chillers last 15 to 20 years while water-cooled chillers last 20 to 30 years.
  Partially, the reason water-cooled chillers last longer is because they are typically installed indoors and operate at a lower condenser fluid pressure, while air-cooled chillers operate outdoors at a higher condenser pressure.
• Water conservation: Water availability, cost, treatment requirements as well as potential additional construction complexity all play a role in system selection. Since air-cooled chillers do not require water, they are often a preferred choice especially in locations where there is a water shortage, or the water is very expensive.
  Water is one of two major resources data centers consume.1 Combined, US data centers were responsible for consumption of 626 billion liters of water in , which includes both water consumed directly at data center sites and water used to generate the electricity that powered them that year. However, as the report points out, far more water is used to generate electricity that powers data centers than to cool them, so chiller efficiency again comes back into consideration.

Air-Cooled Chiller Advantages vs Water-Cooled Chiller Advantages Summarized

Air-cooled chiller advantages include

• Lower maintenance costs
• A prepackaged system for easier design and installation
• Better performance in freezing temperature

Water-cooled chiller advantages include

• Greater energy efficiency
• Larger capacities
• Longer equipment life

Yet, the best choice for the project may also depend on an entirely different set of decisions criteria. It’s important for data centers and system designers to consider all factors to ensure the chiller that ultimately is specified balances all the objectives over the long term.

Read an example of how Trane's expertise helped design an energy-efficient data center: Sustainable Data Center Solutions for Cape Augusta Digital Properties.

[1] Sverdlik, Yevgeniy, DataCenter Knowledge, July , “Here’s How Much Water All US Data Centers Consume.” https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives//07/12/heres-how-much-water-all-us-data-centers-consume

Temperature control is vital to maintaining industry performance and product quality in industries with precision and reliability as key factors. Chillers are very important equipment from laboratories to industrial manufacturing plants which are needed to keep the environment optimum in terms of required conditions. The right cooling solution— whether air-cooled or water-cooled—can also greatly impact performance, energy usage, and long-run cost. In this blog, we are going over the differences between the two chillers to determine which system is best for you.

What Are Air-Cooled Chillers?

The air-cooled chillers use fans to blow ambient air over a condenser coil to get rid of the heat from the system to the surrounding environment. This design is simple and is often used in facilities where water may be somewhat scarce or there may be lower heat removal demands.

Advantages:

• Simpler installation: This means that air-cooled chillers don’t need extra infrastructure such as cooling towers or water pumps, and are easier and quicker to install.

• Lower upfront costs: Air-cooled chillers in general tend to cost less to install because they are fewer pieces.

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• Easier to maintain: These chillers are usually without the need for water treatment or pump maintenance.

Disadvantages:

• Less efficient in high ambient temperatures: Air-cooled chillers work harder in warmer climates reducing their efficiency.

• Louder operation: In sensitive environments such as laboratories, fans can make more noise.

• Higher operating costs: Despite this, air-cooled chillers may come to consume more energy over time, especially in areas with high temperatures.

What Are Water-Cooled Chillers?

In contrast, water-cooled chillers take heat from water and release it again. Generally, this type of chiller couples with a cooling tower to blow off the heat from the water circulating through the system. Water-cooled chillers are good for larger units or high-cooling applications.

Advantages:

• More efficient cooling: Bigger applications such as water-cooled systems are more efficient because water absorbs heat better than air.
• Quieter operation: Water-cooled chillers are quieter in operation since it does not use fans, Making them perfect for noise-sensitive environments.
• Better performance in high-temperature environments: In hot regions, these chillers stay as efficient as in low ambient temperature areas.

Disadvantages:

• Higher installation costs: Chillers that are water-cooled require the use of cooling towers, pumps and additional piping, which makes for a more complex and expensive initial system.
• More maintenance: Cooling towers or water circulation systems need regular maintenance, including water treatment to prevent corrosion and scaling.
• Water dependency: Proper working of water-cooled chillers is heavily dependent upon a consistent and reliable water supply.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Chiller

When deciding between an air-cooled and water-cooled chiller or even other types of chiller, several factors come into play:

1. Cooling Capacity Requirements: Water-cooled chillers usually have larger heat loads which can handle larger capacities more efficiently.
2. Space and Installation Needs: For external installation or where space is more limited, benchtop chillers, usually with air cooled system, are preferred.
3. Environmental Conditions: Consider your geographic location and operating environment. In cooler climates, air-cooled chillers work better whereas in hot or humid areas water-cooled chillers are more efficient.
4. Long-term Costs: While air-cooled systems may be cheaper upfront, water-cooled chillers can significantly save in the long run with energy efficiency when operating in larger sizes and scales and for those who require continuous cooling.

Introducing PolyScience Chillers: Innovation in Temperature Control

A proud partner that works in tandem with MSE Supplies offers industry-leading air-cooled and water-cooled chillers that meet the varied needs of laboratories, medical facilities and industrial processes. Developed to be an industry leader in the development of liquid temperature control solutions, PolyScience is famous for its innovations, reliability, quality and user-centric designs.

Known for their robustness and efficient performance, PolyScience products are trusted across six continents. As an authorized distributor, MSE Supplies features a full line of PolyScience products tailored and developed by a dedicated engineering team—making each chiller meet the highest specifications of precision and performance. We work together both, to offer our customers the very best cutting-edge, environmentally responsible solutions for efficiency and longevity.

Why Choose PolyScience Chiller & Accessories?

• Unparalleled Innovation and Passion: Dedicated to further refining and enhancing the science of temperature control, PolyScience continues to be a leader in the industry by pioneering the development of many new temperature control solutions that are engineered to maximize operating efficiency in a wide variety of applications.
• Environmental Stewardship: With designs that take sustainability seriously, PolyScience is serious about being environmentally responsible. ISO Environmental Management System guidelines are followed within their manufacturing practices and their products are cleaner, more efficient and longer-lasting.
• Quality and Reliability: The user experience is focused on every PolyScience product and is designed to deliver reliable, easy-to-operate chillers that meet the demanding demands of laboratory, medical, and industrial environments.

The decision between an air-cooled and a water-cooled chiller hinges on your particular cooling requirements, availability of space and environmental conditions. PolyScience has a solution for your requirements presenting energy efficiency, lower upfront costs or long-term reliability. PolyScience Chillers & accessories have a reputation for innovative design, quality and sustainability, offering these ideal temperature control solutions to a wide range of industries.

MSE Supplies has the entire line of poly science air and water chilled at poly science supplies. Whether you require the ease and dependability of temperature control for various applications, our team is here to assist you in finding the proper solution for your application. Give MSE Supplies a call today for tailored recommendations.

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