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The difference between air-cooled screw chiller and air-cooled scroll chiller

2025-06-20

Air-Cooled scroll chiller VS Air-Cooled Screw Chiller

Functionally: The air-cooled screw chiller and the air-cooled scroll chiller have the same cooling function. The cooling, heating and energy are all electric energy.

Application industry: are mainly used in industry, medicine, plastic, food, coal, shopping malls and other industries.

It can be installed on the roof or outdoor courtyard, without the need for a dedicated machine room and cooling tower.

The smallest air-cooled screw chillers are 30HP/30Ton, while air-cooled scroll chillers range from 1HP/1Ton to 60HP/60Ton. The two categories differ on the basis of capacity range. Another difference is that screw chillers do not have a built-in water tank and water pump, while air-cooled scroll chillers have a water tank and water pump. Furthermore, it has a compact design, so it is easy to integrate. Unlike screw chillers with touch screens, air-cooled scroll chillers are equipped with an easy-to-use PID controller. The Oumal air-cooled screw chiller control system uses Siemens PLC + WeiView HDMI Touch Screen.


Unit characteristics comparison:

Features of air-cooled screw chiller:

Semi-hermetic screw type high-efficiency compressor, and there are single-machine system and double-machine system options. The unit has a compact structure and is easy to maintain. Adopting a new 5:6 multi-national patent asymmetric rotor tooth profile, the occlusion is tight, and the operation is stable; the use of high-efficiency motors is energy-saving and economical; the advanced intelligent defrosting method, the microcomputer analyzes the temperature of each point at any time, optimizes the defrosting cycle time, and ensures the removal of The frost is timely without affecting the heating operation, and the defrosting and heating are carried out at the same time, and the operation is more reliable and stable. Professional motor cooling device to meet harsh operating conditions. The unique design of the condensate pan eliminates the need for additional electric heating equipment, which completely eliminates the problem of freezing at the bottom of the coil during heating. A new generation of high-efficiency heat exchange tubes, the heat exchange coefficient is increased by 5%; the double-slot tube sheet hole design and advanced tube expansion technology make the structure more sealed and reliable, completely avoiding the possibility of mutual penetration. Economizer mode operation improves the cooling capacity and COP of the unit more effectively.

Air cooled screw chiller

Features of air-cooled scroll chillers:

The use of fully enclosed scroll compressors, high-efficiency and high-quality components, and optimized system design. The scroll refrigeration system is also a simple system process in the industry. The heat pump unit cancels the one-way valve and adopts the unique bidirectional expansion valve throttling technology, which makes the system process greatly simplify. That is, the system resistance is reduced, the performance is improved, and the hidden danger of leakage is reduced, and the unit runs stably and reliably. The evaporator adopts internal thread type high-efficiency heat exchange copper tube or coil evaporator. The outer surface of the copper tube is spirally smooth and the baffle plate on the water side adopts a non-short circuit design, which improves the heat exchange efficiency of chilled water mixing. The main control equipment of the unit adopts a special microcomputer controller. Parameter setting, query is convenient, and operation is simple. Unit operation, energy regulation and self-protection. Automatic monitoring, after receiving the goods, only need to connect the water system and power supply and can be used.

Air cooled scroll chiller

Total cost for air cooled chiller and water cooled chiller system

2025-06-20

Many companies use chillers, but they don't know how to choose them. When you chose a industrial chiller, we need to consider the working conditions, the installation, and the cost. Now we are talking about the cost for the air cooled chiller and water cooled chiller system.


The total cost for an air-cooled chiller system and a water-cooled chiller system can vary depending on several factors, including the capacity of the chiller, the complexity of the installation, and the specific requirements of the site. Here are some cost considerations for each type of chiller system:

Air-Cooled Chiller System:

Chiller Unit: The cost of the air-cooled chiller unit itself can vary based on the cooling capacity and efficiency rating. Higher-capacity or more energy-efficient units tend to have higher costs.

Installation: The cost of installing an air-cooled chiller system is often lower compared to water-cooled systems because there is no need for a cooling tower, water pumps, or associated water piping.

Electrical Requirements: Consider the electrical infrastructure needed to support the chiller unit, including electrical panels, wiring, and any necessary upgrades. This cost will depend on the site's existing electrical capacity.

Maintenance: Factor in ongoing maintenance costs for the chiller, such as regular inspections, filter replacement, and cleaning of the unit's condenser coils.

30hp air cooled chiller

Water-Cooled Chiller System:

Chiller Unit: Water-cooled chiller units typically have a higher initial cost compared to air-cooled units, primarily due to the additional components required, like a cooling tower, water pumps, and water piping.

Cooling Tower: Consider the cost of the cooling tower, which is used to dissipate heat from the chiller system. The size and complexity of the cooling tower will impact the cost.

Water Pumps and Piping: Factor in the cost of water pumps and associated piping to circulate water between the chiller, cooling tower, and other components.

Chilled Water System: If the site doesn't have an existing chilled water system, additional costs may be incurred to install distribution piping and terminal units (such as air handling units or fan coil units) for delivering chilled water to the desired areas.

Water Treatment: Water-cooled systems typically require water treatment to prevent scale, corrosion, and biological growth. Consider the cost of water treatment equipment and ongoing maintenance.

water cooled screw chiller

In short, when choosing an air-cooled chiller and a water-cooled chiller, we need to consider comprehensively. We can contact the chiller manufacturer. They have professional refrigeration engineers who can provide professional advice for our industrial cooling water system. We choose the right chiller system.

What are the applications of industrial chillers in plastic industry production?

2025-06-20

Water Chillers have various applications in the production of the plastic industry. Some of the key applications include:


Cooling injection molding machines: In the injection molding process, high-temperature plastic materials need to be cooled and solidified to obtain the desired shape and properties. Industrial chillers can control the temperature of the injection molding machine by circulating cooling water, ensuring rapid cooling of the plastic and improving production efficiency and product quality. How to equip an injection molding machine with a chiller, please contact our sales to get a solution.oumal@oumal.com


Cooling extrusion machines: In plastic extrusion processes, high-temperature plastic pellets are extruded through an extrusion head to form shapes. During extrusion, the plastic needs to be cooled to maintain product appearance and dimensional stability. Industrial chillers provide cooling water to lower the temperature of the plastic, meeting the requirements of the extrusion process.


Cooling molds: In plastic injection molding, molds need to be cooled to facilitate demolding and rapid solidification of the plastic. Chillers can circulate cooling water into the mold to reduce mold temperature, ensuring quick solidification of the plastic, thus improving production efficiency and product quality.


Cooling plastic processing equipment: During plastic processing, equipment such as extruders, blow molding machines, and vacuum forming machines generate a significant amount of heat. Industrial chillers can use cooling water to lower the temperature, preventing equipment overheating, and improving equipment stability and lifespan.

plastic processing chiller

Controlling plastic forming temperature: Different plastic materials require specific temperature ranges for molding to ensure product quality. Industrial chillers can control the molding temperature by providing cooling circulation, catering to the requirements of different plastic materials.


In summary, the applications of chillers in plastic industry production primarily revolve around temperature control and regulation during the plastic processing stage, aiming to enhance production efficiency, product quality, and equipment stability. The Air cooled chiller is widely used in the plastic industry. Also if the cooling water flow is big, we can use an air cooled screw chiller or water cooled screw chiller. When many machines need to be cool, but we use one central chiller to supply cooling water, the screw chiller is a good choice. We will help to make the best solution for your cooling water system. Contact us to chose your right chiller. WhatsApp: +86 15112554736.

What are the hazards of dirt on water-cooled chillers

2025-06-20

More dust and poor water quality in the chiller environment will affect the normal operation of the equipment, and even lead to downtime. In order to increase the operating power of the chiller, it is necessary to create high-quality conditions for use and effectively maintain the operating power of the air-cooled chiller.

When using the chiller, if there is a lot of dust and other problems in the environment during the operation of the equipment, the normal operation of the equipment will be affected after the equipment enters the water-cooled chiller. In order to prevent the chiller equipment from being affected by dust in the environment and a large amount of scale due to long-term lack of maintenance, companies need to conduct professional inspections on chillers on a regular basis.


A layer of solid or ooze builds up, called fouling, which adds additional fouling thermal and flow resistance, increasing required heat transfer area, power consumption and maintenance cleaning costs. Due to the large number and wide range of heat exchangers, the fouling of heat exchangers has a great impact on one-time investment, metal material consumption and energy consumption. In today's emphasis on energy saving and emission reduction, it is particularly important to minimize the impact of dirt.


During the operation of the water-cooled screw chiller, on the water side of the heat exchange equipment, especially in the condenser of the open circulating cooling water system, there are slightly water-soluble or water-insoluble minerals, such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, silicic acid Calcium, iron oxide, phosphate, etc. Adhering to the inner surface of the heat transfer tube to form scale; dust, silt, algae, microbial communities and even leaves, weeds, etc. The sediment mixed into the water is deposited on the inner surface of the heat transfer tube, forming sludge. Fouling on the water side mainly includes scale and sludge. Fouling increases the heat transfer resistance of the heat transfer surface, directly affects the heat transfer effect, increases the condensation temperature or reduces the evaporation temperature, resulting in increased energy consumption and reduced cooling capacity of the refrigerator. The thickening of the scale layer reduces the cross-sectional area of the flow in the heat transfer tube, increases the water flow velocity and the roughness of the tube wall, leads to an increase in the flow resistance on the water side, and increases the power consumed by the pump.



140 HP water cooled screw chiller


The accumulation of dirt will also cause local corrosion or even perforation of the heat exchange surface, which seriously threatens the safe operation and service life of the water-cooled chiller. In the heat exchanger design of water-cooled chillers, the presence of dirt increases the heat transfer resistance, reduces the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat transfer tube, and increases the energy consumption of the compressor. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the reduction of the overall heat transfer coefficient by increasing the heat transfer area to ensure sufficient heat transfer. The correct choice of fouling factor has a great influence on the cost, energy consumption and operation cost of heat exchange equipment. Unfortunately, despite ongoing scientific research on fouling, to date there is no generally accepted value for the fouling factor that can be accurately used in heat exchanger design.


In the design of heat exchangers, the choice of fouling factor is often based on experience rather than science. Based on operating experience with a particular system under the same or similar operating conditions, or based on measurement data obtained from actual equipment under the same operating conditions, or based on test data obtained from testing with prototype or model equipment in the laboratory, or using the recommendations of authoritative institutions It is reasonable to estimate the data.


In order to avoid similar failures of chillers, it is necessary to complete the treatment of water sources and environmental dust in time. It can provide a comfortable environment for the chiller, and pay attention to the maintenance of the chiller. Even if the enterprise runs the chiller for a long time without any rest time, the equipment can also maintain stable operating performance and truly achieve the goal of quickly reducing the space temperature.


What is screw chiller?

2025-06-20

A screw chiller, also known as a screw compressor chiller, is a type of water chiller utilized for cooling applications in various industries, including injection molding. The semi-hermetic screw compressor is the core components of a screw chiller.  It operates based on the principle of a rotary screw compressor, which is a positive displacement compressor. The screw compressor consists of two interlocking helical rotors that compress the refrigerant gas to raise its pressure and temperature.


According to different heat dissipation methods, screw chillers are divided into air-cooled screw chillers and water-cooled screw chillers. Under the same cooling capacity requirement, the purchase cost of water-cooled screw chillers is lower than that of air-cooled screw chillers. As far as chiller installation is concerned, air-cooled screw chillers are easier to install.

air cooled screw chiller

Here are some key features of a screw chiller:


Cooling capacity: Screw chillers are available in a wide range of cooling capacities to meet the specific requirements of injection molding machines. They can handle high cooling loads efficiently, making them suitable for industrial applications. Oumal screw water chiller cooling capacity from 100kw to 1000kw.

Air cooled screw chiller cooling capacity from 90kw to 600KW.


Energy efficiency: Screw chillers are known for their energy efficiency. They can achieve high cooling capacities while consuming relatively less electrical power compared to other types of chillers.


Temperature control: Screw chillers offer precise temperature control, allowing for stable and consistent cooling of the process water used in injection molding machines. This helps maintain the desired temperature for optimal molding conditions. Oumal screw chillers use Siemens PLC controller. Intelligent control, simple operation.


Reliability and durability: Screw chillers are robust and designed for continuous operation in demanding industrial environments. They are built with durable components and feature advanced control systems to ensure reliable and trouble-free performance.


Modular design: Many screw chillers have a modular design, which allows for easy scalability and flexibility. This means that multiple units can be combined to provide higher cooling capacity if needed, making them suitable for expanding operations or varying cooling requirements.


Advanced control options: Screw chillers often come with advanced control options, such as microprocessor-based controllers or touch screen interfaces. These controls provide intuitive operation, real-time monitoring, and the ability to set and adjust various parameters for optimal performance and energy savings.


Noise reduction: Screw chillers are designed with noise reduction features to minimize the operating noise levels. This is important in industrial settings where noise can be a concern.

water cooled screw chiller


Overall, screw chillers offer efficient and reliable cooling solutions for injection molding machines, helping to maintain consistent process temperatures and optimize the production of high-quality plastic parts.

What is the energy efficiency ratio of a chiller

2025-06-20

Water-cooled chillers are essential for maintaining optimal temperatures in various industrial and commercial settings. When choosing a chiller, understanding its efficiency ratings is crucial. Chiller efficiency ratings are standardized metrics used to measure the energy efficiency of chillers. Here are three common efficiency ratings:


Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): SEER is typically used to measure the energy efficiency of air conditioning and heat pump systems. It represents the cooling output of a chiller during a typical cooling season (in British thermal units or BTUs) divided by the energy consumed in watt-hours. SEER takes into account the varying operating conditions throughout the cooling season, including part-load conditions.


Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): EER is another metric used to evaluate the energy efficiency of chillers, similar to SEER. It represents the cooling output in BTUs divided by the electrical power input in watts under standard rating conditions. Unlike SEER, EER is measured at a specific operating condition, typically at 100% load capacity.


Coefficient of Performance (COP): COP is a measure of the ratio between the cooling or heating output of a chiller and the energy input. For cooling applications, COP is the ratio of cooling output in BTUs to the energy input in watt-hours. A higher COP indicates a more energy-efficient chiller since it produces more cooling per unit of energy consumed.


It's important to note that the specific definitions, calculation methods, and rating conditions may vary depending on regional standards and regulations. When comparing chillers, it is advisable to consider the appropriate efficiency rating for your specific application and region.

Water-cooled chillers

It's worth mentioning that SEER and EER are commonly used for air-cooled chillers, while COP is often used for water-cooled chillers.It should be noted that the energy efficiency ratio of a chiller is affected by operating conditions, ambient temperature, cooling load, and the manufacturer's technology and design level. When choosing a chiller, in addition to the energy efficiency ratio, other factors such as cooling capacity, control accuracy, reliability, and maintenance requirements should also be considered comprehensively to meet specific application needs.

what's the harm of insufficient refrigerant to the industrial chiller

2025-06-20

The importance of traditional industries in our lives is becoming more and more obvious, and the importance of related equipment that assists traditional processing industries is also becoming more and more obvious. Air-cooled chillers have become an indispensable presence in the plastics processing industry. An excellent chiller can greatly improve the surface finish of the plastic products we see now, and can also greatly reduce the probability of marks, textures and internal stress on the surface of plastic products, ensuring that the plastic products that reach consumers will not shrink or appear. In the case of deformation, choosing an air-cooled chiller can also help more convenient demoulding and product molding when processing plastic products, which greatly improves the production efficiency and product quality of the industry. Air-cooled chillers have become an indispensable refrigeration auxiliary equipment for manufacturers in the plastics industry.


industrial air cooled chiller


Therefore, the normal operation of the industrial chiller is very important, and the lack of refrigerant will affect the cooling effect of the chiller. Air cooling is the cause of insufficient refrigerant in the chiller.

1. The newly installed chiller is not filled with refrigerant as required.

2. The air tightness of the system is not good, resulting in refrigerant leakage.

3. Improper operation and maintenance may lead to refrigerant leakage.


Insufficient refrigerant in an industrial chiller can lead to several harmful consequences, including:

Reduced cooling capacity: The refrigerant is responsible for absorbing heat from the process fluid and transferring it to the environment. If there is not enough refrigerant, the cooling capacity of the chiller will be reduced, leading to higher process fluid temperatures and decreased efficiency.

Increased energy consumption: When the chiller is not operating at full capacity, it may need to run for longer periods to maintain the required temperature, resulting in higher energy consumption and increased operating costs.

Component failure: Running an industrial chiller with insufficient refrigerant can cause the compressor to overheat and eventually fail. This can result in costly repairs and extended downtime.

Reduced lifespan: Operating an industrial chiller with insufficient refrigerant can cause excessive wear and tear on the system's components, reducing its lifespan and requiring more frequent maintenance.

Safety hazards: Low refrigerant levels can cause the chiller to operate at higher pressures, which can create safety hazards for workers and potentially lead to equipment damage or failure.


Overall, insufficient refrigerant can have significant negative impacts on the performance, efficiency, and safety of an industrial chiller. It is crucial to ensure that the chiller is properly maintained and that refrigerant levels are regularly checked and adjusted as needed.


Where are water-cooled chillers used? What is a chiller used for?

2025-06-20

Water-cooled chiller is a cooling water device that can provide constant temperature, constant current and constant pressure. A chiller is a machine that achieves refrigeration through vapor compression or absorption cycles. These liquids can flow through heat exchangers to cool the air or equipment. The industrial chiller can always output ice water with a lower temperature than the ambient temperature. It can be used wherever cooling is required, either direct cooling or indirect heat exchange. The main components of a water-cooled chiller are compressor, condenser, evaporator, water pump, and water tank.


Chillers have a wide range of applications. The chiller can be used to cool the injection mold, improve the quality of plastic products, cool the vacuum coating, control the temperature of the vacuum coating machine, cool the food industry, fast cooling processing, chemical industry, effectively control the temperature of chemicals, cooling buildings, concrete fast Cooling and condensation, etc.



According to the application, the chiller can be divided into industrial chiller, screw chiller, electroplating chiller, oxidation chiller, laser chiller, coating chiller, welding professional chiller, ultrasonic chiller, extruder chiller, injection molding chiller Special chiller, chemical chiller, electrophoretic paint chiller, pharmaceutical chiller, food chiller, stainless steel chiller, circuit board chiller, blister chiller, coating chiller, according to the working conditions Divided into air-cooled chillers, water-cooled chillers, low-temperature chillers, constant temperature chillers, etc.


Selecting the Right Chiller for Your Process – What We’ve Learned at OUMAL

2025-06-20

In industrial production, stable process cooling isn’t just a support function — it’s often the difference between smooth operation and costly downtime. At OUMAL Refrigeration Machinery Co., Ltd, we’ve worked with customers across injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, and more. Over time, one thing has become clear: choosing the right chiller matters.

Not All Cooling Needs Are Created Equal
Different industries — even different machines — have very different cooling requirements. For example, a customer running a small injection molding line may only need a compact 8 ton chiller to maintain mold temperatures within a tight range. These chillers are space-efficient and offer precise control, making them a practical choice for localized cooling tasks.

On the other hand, when the scale increases or when multiple machines share a cooling circuit, something like a 15 TR chiller tends to be a better fit. We’ve seen these used successfully in mid-sized production lines where reliability and steady performance are non-negotiable.

For large plants, especially those operating around the clock, a 100 ton water cooled chiller can provide both capacity and energy efficiency. Water-cooled systems require more infrastructure — including cooling towers and proper piping — but in return, they offer stable performance in high ambient environments and over long production runs.

Built for Industry, Backed by Experience
What sets OUMAL apart is not just the equipment itself, but the way we build around customer needs. Our manufacturing team can handle a wide range of options and customizations, which means the chiller you receive isn’t off-the-shelf — it’s made to work the way you do.

We’ve served customers in over 20 countries, including the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Brazil. The variety of applications we’ve supported — from blown film to compound mixing — gives us the insight to ask the right questions before making a recommendation. Our goal is always to match cooling performance with process demand, rather than over- or under-sizing.

Long-Term Value Comes from the Right Start
One thing we often remind our partners: a properly selected chiller does more than control temperature. It protects your equipment, shortens your cycle times, and helps maintain product consistency. That’s especially important in processes where a few degrees can mean the difference between a good batch and scrap.


Whether you’re starting with a single machine or upgrading an entire line, OUMAL is ready to help you choose wisely — whether that’s an 8 ton, 15 TR, or 100 ton water cooled chiller.


China chiller manufacturer

What Is an Air Cooled Chiller – A Practical Explanation from the Factory Floor

2025-06-20

When someone new joins our engineering team, one of the first questions they usually ask is: “So what’s the difference between air cooled and water cooled chillers—and which one’s better?”


It’s a good question. And after installing, maintaining, and even troubleshooting both systems in dozens of customer factories, here’s how we usually explain it.


Let’s Start with the Basics

An air cooled chiller is essentially a cooling unit that uses ambient air to remove heat from a circulating liquid—usually water or a water-glycol mix. It's often used to keep production equipment or buildings at a stable temperature.

There’s no need for a cooling tower or a complex water pipeline. It uses built-in fans to get the job done.

This setup is widely chosen in:

  • Injection molding plants

  • Food packaging lines

  • Laser processing workshops

  • HVAC systems for commercial buildings

If you’ve got space outside and want to avoid dealing with water quality issues, air cooled is probably the better call.

air cooled screw chiller

What’s Inside the Unit?

Rather than listing textbook components, here’s what we see under the cover of atypical air cooled water chiller we ship:

  • A compressor that acts like the system’s engine

  • An evaporator that draws heat out of your process water

  • A condenser with aluminum fins, cooled by strong fans

  • An expansion valve to adjust refrigerant pressure

  • A control panel—the brain of the system

Some models include water pumps and tanks. Others are modular—you can connect them to existing infrastructure.


Here’s How It Works (Simplified)

Let’s say you’re using a CNC machine that heats up during operation. Here’s how the air cooled chiller steps in:

  1. The warm water comes back from the CNC.

  2. It enters the evaporator inside the chiller.

  3. The refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs that heat and turns into a gas.

  4. The gas gets compressed—its temperature and pressure rise sharply.

  5. That hot gas goes through the condenser. Fans blow outside air across coils, removing the heat.

  6. The refrigerant turns back into a liquid, and the cycle repeats.

Your machine keeps running cool—and you don’t need a water tower or much operator attention.


Why Do Customers Choose Air Cooled Units from Us?

Some of our long-term clients choose air cooled chiller systems for one reason: they just work.
Even without an in-house technician, these systems are straightforward to install, easy to control, and rarely break down when used correctly.

Clients also appreciate that we offer:

  • Tailored sizing based on actual load

  • Remote monitoring options

  • Short lead times, even for custom orders

  • Reliable after-sales support (yes, even overseas)


As a practical air cooled chiller supplier, we’re not here to sell what’s biggest or most expensive—we help customers find what runs stably for years.

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