Chiller Systems
Large-scale cooling plants producing chilled water for distribution throughout entire buildings. Used in malls, hospitals, and high-rises.
Capacity
20 – 2,000+ TR
BTU Range
240,000 – 24,000,000+ BTU/hr
Efficiency
COP 4.5 – 7.5 (water-cooled)
Refrigerant
R-134a, R-1234ze, R-410A
Price Range
₱2,000,000 – ₱80,000,000+ (project)
How Chiller Systems Work
A chiller system produces chilled water (typically 6-7°C) at a central plant, then distributes it through insulated pipes to Air Handling Units (AHUs) and Fan Coil Units (FCUs) throughout the building. AHUs blow air across the chilled water coils to cool large zones (entire floors), while FCUs handle individual rooms or smaller areas. In the Philippines, large commercial buildings, malls (SM, Ayala), hospitals, and university campuses rely on chiller systems because they scale efficiently to millions of BTU — far beyond what VRF systems can handle. Water-cooled chillers with cooling towers achieve the highest efficiency (COP 5.0-7.5) but require rooftop space for the cooling tower and a pump room for water circulation.
Air-Cooled vs Water-Cooled Chillers
Air-cooled chillers reject heat directly to outdoor air through large condenser fans, eliminating the need for cooling towers and water treatment. They're simpler to install and maintain but achieve lower efficiency (COP 2.8-3.5) and require significant outdoor space for the condenser unit. Water-cooled chillers use a cooling tower to reject heat through water evaporation, achieving higher COP (5.0-7.5) but requiring cooling tower maintenance, water treatment, and additional pump energy. In the Philippine climate with high ambient temperatures (35°C+), water-cooled chillers maintain more consistent performance because wet-bulb temperature is lower than dry-bulb. For buildings above 500 TR cooling load, water-cooled systems are almost always more cost-effective over the system's 20-25 year lifespan.
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