Portable chillers serve the same purpose as central chillers: to provide the required cooling for a commercial property. However, unlike central chillers, portable units can be easily disconnected from one process and reconnected to another. For added convenience, these units have pre-mounted wheels that allow them to be moved from one point to the next as necessary.
Whether you’re looking to purchase one or more portable chillers, or rent them from one of the portable chiller rental companies in Riverside County, understanding what these devices are and which applications they’re best suited for is crucial in order to ensure the smooth operation of your facility. Keep reading to learn more.
What is a portable chiller?
First, it should be noted that the term “portable chiller” doesn’t refer to the unit’s mobility, but rather its internal design. The reservoir, pumps, and refrigeration circuit of a portable chiller are all contained within a single footprint. Despite many of these units having wheels, most of them are never moved after installation.
The cooling capacities of portable chillers range between 0.25 and 40 tons. They come in two main types: air and water. Both types contain a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and an expansion valve. The main difference between these two chiller types is in the method used to eject excess heat.
Consider the following:
Air cooled chillers
These portable chillers work by blowing air over the exposed condenser tubes using powerful fans. This cools down the condenser tubes and expels heat via the blown air. They have the advantage of easy installation. However, they tend to be less energy-efficient and more prone to blockages and recirculation problems than water chillers.
Water cooled chillers
Portable water chillers shed heat by pumping water through a sealed condenser and ejecting it through a cooling tower. They’re more energy-efficient than their air cooled counterparts and tend to last longer on average. Their disadvantage is that they take longer to install.
What is the difference between a chiller and an air conditioner?
ACs allow for precise regulation of humidity and air temperature levels in more confined areas. They’re most often used in homes, offices, and small buildings. Most air conditioners are designed to be used in non-industrial applications and can vary widely in size and strength.
Chiller-driven cooling is typically used by industrial or other large scale operations such as government and county facilities, corporations, hospitals, data centers, shipyards, manufacturing, convention centers, hotels, and more.
Portable chillers are also used to provide cooling in case of:
- Planned shutdowns of the HVAC systems
- Unexpected system failures
- Temporary load increases (summer heat wave)
- Meeting cooling needs of temporary structures
Another big difference between portable chillers and ACs is that portable chillers are self-contained devices that simply have to be “hooked up” to the area they’re meant to cool. They can be easily moved elsewhere when and as needed. In comparison, ACs require complex installation and can’t be moved without complete disassembly.
Who is the leader among reputable portable chiller rental companies in Riverside County?
Are you planning a temporary HVAC system shutdown at your property near The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, and you need an emergency cooling solution until your HVAC system is back online? Or perhaps you’re looking to supplement the cooling at one of your industrial facilities in Riverside County?
That’s where Aerco Systems come in. We specialize in providing our clients with seamless and efficient chiller rentals. We offer an extensive range of HVAC rental equipment, including chillers, fans, cooling towers, air handles, pumps, package units, and more. Reach out to us today.