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Scroll Chillers: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Before you buy scroll chillers, read this guide.

It has all information you need to know about scroll chillers such as parts, working principles, increasing efficiency, and quality tests, just to mention a few.

Keep reading to learn more.

What are Scroll Chillers?

Scroll chillers are special types of chillers that use the scroll compressor to produce a chilling effect on different industrial equipment.

It uses two interleaving scrolls where one scroll is within the other to compress the refrigerant.

 Scroll chiller designed by TopChiller

How Much Does a Scroll Chiller Cost?

Depending on the type of scroll chillers, you will pay between 2500 and 60,000 US dollars.

You realize that there is a huge price gap between the different types of chillers.

This is due to many reasons.

The prices vary due to many reasons including varying scroll chiller sizes and quality.

Implying that the greater the quality and size of a scroll chiller, the higher the cost of the scroll chillers.

High-quality scroll chillers use very high-quality materials which are costly hence the high prices.

What are the Components of the Cooling System of the Scroll Chillers?

The chilling system of scroll chillers has numerous parts that work in conjunction with one another to produce a chilling effect.

Here are the main components of the scroll chillers that you ought to know more about.

· Compressor

This is the core component of the scroll chillers which provides the refrigerant with enough pressure to move through the chillers.

In other words, the scroll compressor will help in converting the input energy into mechanical energy on the refrigerant.

· Condenser

You will depend on the condenser to eliminate the heat from the refrigerant thus condensing it from gas to liquid state.

It will use the help of cool air or water flowing through the system to get rid of the heat thus leaving the refrigerant condensed.

· Cistern

This is a reservoir within the condenser that receives the refrigerant and contains it for a while as it condenses the refrigerant.

In other words, it will act as a container that allows the refrigerant to make good use of the cooling system within the condenser.

· Dry Filter

The dry filter will help in getting rid of any moisture by drying it off from entering the main system of the scroll chillers.

Apart from that, it acts as a filter that blocks the entry of dirt from entering the scroll chillers’ main system.

· Thermal Expansion Valve

It acts as the flow regulation valve as well as the throttle valve in the scroll chiller system.

It is responsible for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant while maintaining low temperatures.

· Evaporator

This is the point where the refrigerant will collect the heat that comes from the industrial application system.

It uses the evaporation system to absorb heat from the cooling system and transfer the heat to the refrigerant.

· Refrigerant

This is the fluid that is capable of changing form from gas to liquid while collecting and depositing heat from the chillers.

There are two main types of refrigerants that you can use in scroll chillers which include R22 and R12.

Scroll chiller major parts diagram

How does Scroll Chillers Work?

There are two types of scroll chillers which include air-cooled chillers and water-cooled chillers.

Both of them apply the same working principle except for the fact that they will employ water or air to get rid of heat.

Here is a step-by-step process on how the scroll chillers work.

1) Refrigerant Circulation System

The main working principle of the scroll chillers depends greatly on the circulation of the refrigerant through the chiller system.

The process will begin from the refrigerant’s main storage area which will release the refrigerant from the storage tanks.

The refrigerant will then flow in its liquid state from the storage tanks into the compressor system.

2) Refrigerant Compression

As soon as it arrives at the scroll compression system, it will undergo compression which will provide the refrigerant with pressure.

The scroll compressor uses the two interleaving scrolls where one scroll is inside the other to compress the refrigerant.

It will compress the refrigerant more quietly and smoothly thus converting input energy to mechanical energy.

This increases the pressure and volume of the refrigerant allowing it to flow at high velocity to the evaporator.

3) Heat Absorption

The evaporator is responsible for collecting the heat from the flowing cooling water.

In other words, it has a series of pipes running through the evaporator with water containing the heat.

It employs the evaporation system to get rid of the heat from the flowing water thus leaving the water chilled.

Here, the refrigerant will absorb the heat from the evaporator and change from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

It has enough room for collecting a considerable amount of heat due to the high-volume capacity of the refrigerant.

After that, the gas refrigerant, laden with a lot of heat will flow at the same speed and pressure to the condenser.

4) Elimination of Heat

This is the point where the scroll chiller will use the help of cool air or cool water to eliminate the heat from the refrigerant.

The refrigerant, flowing at the same speed and pressure, will flow straight into the cistern, a storage unit within the condenser.

The cistern will give the refrigerant ample time to make use of the flowing cool water or air and eliminate the heat.

In the process of heat elimination, the refrigerant will condense, changing from gaseous state to liquid state.

As soon as it is cool, it will flow to the expansion valve while the air or water eliminates the heat.

The expansion valve will control the high pressure and volume of refrigerant to lower levels that the scroll compressor can handle.

Scroll chiller working principle

How do you Install Scroll Chiller?

You should install the scroll chillers in a place that has proper ventilation and allows free flow of air.

Here is a step-by-step process that you should follow when installing your scroll chillers.

· Selecting Site

You will begin with the process of looking for the perfect site where you will install the scroll chillers.

In this case, you will consider an open place with proper ventilation to avoid large water vapor, acid, and dust.

In case you intend to install more than one scroll chiller, you must maintain a 3-meter distance between them.

This will help in eliminating the possibilities of impedance if you place them too close to one another.

· Laying the Connections

This is the point where you will install the pipes and the valves that will service the small chillers with water or air.

You must look at the right dimensions of the pipes that will match the specifications of the scroll chillers.

In terms of piping connections, you must use soft valves and joints to service the piping connections.

After that, you will connect the pipes and ensure that they are tight enough to avoid losing connections.

· Placing the Scroll Chillers

As soon as you complete the whole process of laying down the pipes, you will proceed with the placement of the scroll chillers.

This is the point where you will need a technician to help in carefully placing the scroll chillers in the right position.

After that, you will proceed with connecting all the valves and joints of the pipe onto the scroll chillers.

You must also be very careful and tighten the connections well to avoid leaks and pressure differences.

· Inspection Stage

At this point, you will inspect the entire scroll chiller as well as the connection between them.

You will also go back to the source of the fluids and check their compatibility with the coil materials.

It is important to know that the fluid might require treatment and you must provide that option.

You should also test the machine by allowing it to run for a while in a bid to know if the connections are good.

As soon as you complete the inspection process, you will look at the antifreeze options of the scroll chillers.

You must ensure that scroll chillers have the capability of operating even in the coldest condition of the winter weather.

How Does the Scroll Chiller Compare to the Screw Chiller?

Air-cooled screw chiller

You can either choose to use the scroll chillers or the screw chillers because they perform the same cooling functions.

In that regard, both scroll chillers and screw chillers follow a similar working principle to eliminate heat.

The major difference comes in the components of the chillers where there is a slight variation between the chillers.

Screw chillers use the screw compressors while the scroll chillers use the scroll compressors.

You will note that the variation in the working principle is on how the scroll compressor and screw compressors work.

Despite that difference, both scroll and screw chillers have evaporators, condensers, and expansion valves.

In addition to that, you can either choose to use the air-cooled or water-cooled scroll or screw chillers.

What is the Difference Between Air-Cooled Scroll Chillers and Water-Cooled Scroll Chillers?

The working principles of both scroll water-cooled chillers and scroll air-cooled chillers are similar.

You will also note that both water-cooled and air-cooled chillers have similar components which include:

• Compressors
• Expansion Valves
• Condensers
• Evaporators

The main difference between the two is the type of fluid that fuels the condensation of the refrigerant.

Air-cooled chillers use air as the main fuel that will help in condensing the refrigerant and eliminating the heat.

Water-cooled chillers use water as the main cooling agent that will help in condensing and eliminating heat from the fluid.

Despite that difference, both of them have scroll compressors that compress the refrigerant and help in heat elimination.

Water cooled scroll chiller

What are the Benefits of Using the Scroll Chillers?

You will enjoy quite a several benefits by using the scroll chillers to cool your industrial equipment.

Here are the main advantages that you will realize by using the scroll chillers.

· High Durability Levels

You will use the scroll chillers for a very long time due to the high levels of durability.

It has very strong materials such as stainless steel that do corrode easily thus increasing the service life.

In addition to that, it has system components such as dry filters that prevent the entry of debris that would cause damages.

· High Compression Capability

Scroll chillers use the interleaving scrolls to compress different types of refrigerants to increase the pressure.

It has two interleaving scroll compressors with one inside the other assisting in the refrigerant compression process.

· High Energy Efficiency

Scroll chillers conserve a lot of energy by using very little bits of energy to produce significant results.

It will help in energy conservation and you will spend less on paying the energy bills thus reducing the cost of production.

· Environmentally Friendly

You will also reduce pollution of the environment by using the scroll schillers as it employs environmentally friendly techniques.

Most scroll chillers use refrigerants that have very low Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) thus reducing the environmental pollution.

· Easy to Install

You will also go through an easy time installing the scroll chillers due to the ease of installation.

It does not require a lot of implements and allows you to properly install the scroll chillers with minimal supervision.

· Easy to Maintain

The process of maintaining the scroll chillers is also very simple and less expensive.

All you have to do is clean, lubricate and replace the broken parts regularly.

· Quite Operations

Scroll chillers do not produce a lot of noise and often operate very quietly to eliminate excess heat.

It is the most convenient type of chillers that you can use in cooling schools and hospitals which require low noise.

Low noise scroll chiller

Are there Limitations of Using Scroll Chillers?

Unfortunately, you will also experience a few drawbacks that should not discourage you from using scroll chillers.

Some of the disadvantages of using scroll chillers include:

· High Cost of Purchase

You will have to spend a lot of money when you are purchasing industrial scroll chillers.

They have very unique and durable components that are quite expensive to acquire thus increasing the production cost.

· Requires Deep Vacuum

You will also require a very deep vacuum of about 250 to 500 microns for the scroll chillers to charge the refrigerant fluids.

Apart from that, you will have to charge the refrigerant in liquid form using the liquid line and not through suction.

How Do You Increase the Efficiency of the Scroll Chillers?

You should use the scroll chillers at their optimum to provide you with the best results.

This is possible through a proper increase of the working efficiency of the scroll chillers.

Here are some of the factors that you can improve to increase the efficiency of the scroll chillers.

· Maintain Proper Record Taking

You have to maintain proper records on how the machine works on a regular or daily basis.

With this information, you can look at the points where the machine is lacking and improve on them.

· Maintain Regular Inspection

As you take the records on the machine performance, you must also inspect the machine on a regur basis.

An inspection will help you understand the health of the machine and also help in the identification of any problematic areas.

· Have a Maintenance Schedule

You must have a proper schedule for maintaining the scroll chillers that you will follow to the letter.

Apart from that, you can also skip the maintenance schedule and fix any broken parts that might affect machine operations.

· Cleaning the Machine

You must also clean the machine regularly to get rid of the dirt that might clog the filters.

Cleaning will also involve treating the refrigerant and all the fluids that you use within the scroll chillers.

In addition to that, you must also clean the delivery pipes to get rid of any growing molds.

· Maintain Optimum Operating Conditions

You must also maintain optimum operating conditions where you will program the machine to work at its best.

In addition to that, you must also use professionals who understand the machine and can operate and maintain them well.

Scroll chiller maintenance

What are the Features to Look at-in Air-Cooled Scroll Chillers?

In your search for air-cooled scroll chillers, you must have a look at specific features of the chillers.

Here are the main features of the air-cooled scroll chillers that you will pay close attention to.

• Energy-efficient and reliable compressors
• Refrigerants that are friendly to the environment
• Separate refrigeration circuits that come with every single compressor
• Easy to Operate Automated Systems
• Tested tube evaporators
• Expansion Valves that are controlled electronically for proper control of temperature

Air cooled scroll chiller

Which Features Make the Water-Cooled Scroll Chillers Unique?

You can also opt for a water-cooled scroll chiller which must also have a specific type of feature.

Here are the main features of water-cooled scroll chillers that you ought to know about.

• Separated refrigeration circuits that come with every compressor
• Skid-mounted units including storage tanks and fluid pumps
• Expansion valves that are controlled electronically
• Easy to Control and Operate with the automatic PLC Control Panel
• Data Logging Features
• Stepped and Automatic Capacity Control Systems
• Highly Reliable Operations

What is the Difference Between Single Compressor and Multiple Compressor Scroll Chiller?

There is a wide range of scroll chillers that you can easily choose from including single and multiple scroll compressor systems.

Here is a comparison between the single scroll compressor and multiple scroll compressor chillers.

i. Single Compressor Scroll Chillers

You will realize that the single compressor scrolls chillers have single scroll compressors units for compressing the refrigerants.

ii. Multiple Compressor Scroll Chillers

Multiple compressors scroll chillers have multiple scroll compressors that help in the compression of the refrigerants.

They produce a greater force in comparison to the pressure that you will get from the single compressor scroll chiller units.

Multiple compressors scroll chiller

What are the Common Problems Associated with Scroll Chillers?

The main problem that you will experience with the scroll chiller is an improper diagnosis of the underlying problems.

There are, however, particular issues that you can look at to distinguish between system problems and defective compressors.

Here are the main problems that can cause system problems and defective scroll chillers.

· Overheating

You will realize that the scroll chillers might overheat due to high friction between the scroll compressor moving parts.

You can sort this out by ensuring that you lubricate the moving parts regularly to eliminate friction.

·         Slugging

This will occur when the refrigerant or other types of fluids in the scroll chillers go back to the storage tanks.

It can be as a result of blockages within the filters or mold growth within the piping systems of the scroll chillers.

You can sort this out by cleaning the filters and the supply and eliminating the clogging debris.

Apart from that, you can also replace the filters and the supply pipes regularly.

You must also treat the fluids regularly to prevent the possibility of contamination.

· Electric Faults

There are particular situations where the machine may fail to start or may automatically stop mid-operations.

This is often a result of faulty electrical installations where the power is not sufficient enough.

You can solve this problem by ensuring that the power supply and cables are in perfect condition.

How Does a Scroll Chiller Compare to a Reciprocating Chiller?

Scroll chillers and reciprocating chillers have varying types of compressors that compress the refrigerants.

Scroll chillers use the scroll compressors which have moving scrolls responsible for creating enough pressure.

Reciprocating chillers have reciprocating compressors that have piston cylinders responsible for the compression of refrigerants thus increasing the pressure.

Apart from that, the scroll chillers have smooth and quiet operations in comparison to the reciprocating chillers.

Apart from that, the scroll chillers have fewer parts than reciprocating chillers thus making them more energy efficient.

Scroll chillers are also cheaper in comparison to the reciprocating chillers thus making them easier to maintain.

Reciprocating chiller

Where should you Install Scroll Chillers?

Well, the main principle when it comes to the installation of scroll chillers is having proper ventilation.

Implying that, you must install the scroll chillers in an area that has proper ventilation.

In other words, you must have a mechanical room that has proper ventilation for the installation of water-cooled scroll chillers.

On the other hand, you will also ensure that you have enough space between the air-cooled chillers on the outside.

Which Quality Specifications Must Scroll Chillers Adhere to?

Well, scroll chillers must adhere to specific quality standards as proof of better-quality machines.

Here are the main quality specifications that your scroll chillers must adhere to.

• EN Quality Certifications such as EN ISO 9001:2015
• GOST R Quality Certifications for the Russian Market
• DIN EN Quality Certifications such as DIN EN ISO 14001:2015
• CE Quality Certifications for High-Quality Labeling
• ELT Quality Certifications for the North American Market
• RoHS Quality Certification such as RoHS 2011/65/EU
• ANSI/AHRI Quality Certifications

What are the Industrial Applications of the Scroll Chillers?

You can use the scroll chillers to create a chilling or cooling effect in different types of industrial applications.

Here are some of the applications where you can comfortably use the scroll chiller.

• Large Office Building
• Medical Industry in places such as hospitals
• Commercial Buildings such as super and hypermarkets
• School Facilities
• Manufacturing Industry such as Steel and Plastic Production

Scroll chiller widely used in the manufacturing industry to regulate the temperature

How Do You Test the Quality of the Scroll Chillers?

You should conduct proper tests on the scroll chillers according to international quality standards.

In this case, you will test all the aspects of the scroll chillers following the industrial quality standards.

In the presence of your scroll chiller manufacturer, you will conduct three main tests on the scroll chillers.

Here are the three main tests that you will conduct on the scroll chillers.

• Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
• Installation Qualification Test (IQ)
• Operational Qualification Tests (OQ)

You will receive proper test certificates which you will use as proof of proper quality for the scroll chillers.

Scroll chiller testing

What are Centrifugal Chillers?

Centrifugal chillers are special types of chillers that use centrifugal compressors to compress the refrigerant.

They have fewer moving parts thus making them quite easy to use and maintain.

Centrifugal Chiller

How do you Determine the Capacity of the Scroll Chiller?

You can determine the capacity of the scroll chillers through the proper calculation to get the right results.

Here is a four-step process that you can follow to accurately calculate and determine the right scroll chiller capacity.

• Start with calculating the material-specific heat, ΔT, and ΔH
• Proceed to Calculate a simplified MCΔT
• After that, you will convert the results you get to tons of chiller capacity
• Finally, you will correct the chiller tonnage for the Water Pump

What is the Best Anti-Freeze for Scroll Chillers?

The best antifreeze that you can use in the scroll chillers is glycol. Apart from that, you can also use a mixture of both glycol and water.

What are the Technological Advancements in Scroll Chiller Industry?

There are quite a lot of technological advancements that you should consider when using scroll chillers.

Here are some of the technological advancements that you should have in your scroll chillers.

• Remote Control Systems
• Improved Refrigerants with Anti-freeze Capabilities
• Automatic Cleaning Systems that will clean the scroll chillers in place
• Automated sensors that increase the overall security of the scroll chillers

As you can see, there are many factors you should consider when choosing scroll chillers.

Depending on your unique requirements and specifications, TopChiller offers a range of chiller machines.

Contact us today for all your unique scroll chiller requirements.

100% quality tested scroll chiller