What is the Different Between a Cooling Tower & a Chiller?

Cooling towers and air-cooled chillers serve similar purposes—to cool air or equipment. Both systems achieve this through circulating water; however, there are subtle differences in how these pieces of equipment operate that can impact their application and the appropriate water treatment strategy.

Chillers are closed-loop systems that remove heat from the coolant to lower the temperature of the surrounding air. Cooling towers, on the other hand, pass water through a condenser or heat exchanger where heat is removed. Additionally, cooling towers are typically not closed-loop systems, as they rely on evaporation in the cooling process.

Approaches to Water Treatment for Chillers & Cooling Towers

Whether your facility uses a chiller, cooling tower, or both for different applications, the goal of water treatment will be the same. As water is replenished in these systems, it can introduce impurities that result in scale and corrosion within piping or on heat exchangers and other key equipment. A proper water treatment program will neutralize these impurities to prevent problems such as excessive pressure buildup and water leaks that can dramatically decrease your equipment’s efficiency and increase the risk of breakdowns.

Of course, because chillers and cooling towers operate differently, the correct approach to water treatment will vary. A professional commercial water treatment company will develop a custom treatment plan based on criteria such as the type of equipment, your building’s engineering specifications, and local regulations regarding water discharge. This can include physical cleaning, application of water softeners, custom chemical formulations and more.

Turn to R2J for Tailored & Turnkey Cooling Water Treatment Services

At R2J, we have been providing water treatment for commercial closed-loop chilled water systems and cooling towers since 1982. Leveraging our more than 150 years of experience, we provide custom treatment services that can be seamlessly integrated with our client’s maintenance programs. Contact us today to learn more.