Free cooling rejects process heat with less reliance on the compressor cycle when outdoor air is sufficiently cold. Suitability depends on climate, required fluid temperature and heat-exchanger approach. Not every air-cooled chiller includes free cooling.

Partial and full modes

A dry cooler or integrated heat exchanger may cover part or all of the duty when ambient air is sufficiently colder than the process fluid. Compressor support continues in partial mode. Fans and pumps still consume electricity, so free cooling is not zero-energy cooling.

Assess annual savings

Combine hourly weather data with the operating load profile. Include exchanger approach, glycol, additional pumping power and control transitions. Compare annual energy for both scenarios rather than copying a percentage from another plant.

Retrofitting an existing installation

Check pump capacity, circuit pressure and hydraulic separation. Freeze protection and temperature stability during transitions are important. An unverified free-cooling option must not be presented as a standard feature of a Vega series.

Project inputs and calculation boundaries

For a quotation, specify approximate heat duty, fluid, inlet and outlet temperatures, flow, pressure loss and operating hours. Design ambient conditions, indoor or outdoor location and electrical infrastructure are also selection inputs. Flow and temperature readings must represent the same operating point. Do not transfer a catalogue capacity directly to different temperatures; confirm model performance at the required duty.

Commissioning and operating records

Check circuit cleanliness, filtration, air removal, proven flow and sensor readings. Record reference water temperatures and load conditions during commissioning. These values provide a baseline for maintenance and alarm investigations. Confirm pumps, tanks, connections and control options against the agreed quotation scope.

Frequently asked questions

Is the series capacity range sufficient for final selection?

No. Confirm the actual model at the required fluid temperature, ambient conditions, fluid properties and hydraulic duty.

Is cooling capacity the electrical consumption?

No. Cooling kW and electrical-input kW are different quantities. An energy assessment also needs actual load and operating hours.

What information is needed for a quotation?

Provide the industry or equipment, target temperature, approximate duty, flow, ambient conditions, operating hours and details of the existing system.

These explanations provide general engineering guidance. Examples are not field measurements or performance guarantees for a particular model.