Process Cooling Glossary
A
A2L Leak Detector
| A safety sensor used with slightly flammable refrigerants like R-454B to detect leaks. |
Air Ring Cooling
| A method of delivering cooled air in a ring around the film bubble during blown film extrusion. |
Ambient Temperature Sensor
| A sensor that reads the surrounding air temperature to help regulate cooling system performance. |
B
Blown Film Cooler
| Cooling equipment that uses chilled air to solidify plastic film during blown film extrusion. Maintains consistent temperature, pressure, and airflow. |
Brazed Plate Evaporator
| A compact evaporator with metal plates brazed together, allowing for efficient heat exchange between refrigerant and process fluid. |
C
Central Chiller
A large-capacity chilling system providing cooling for an entire facility. Available in modular, indoor, remote air-cooled or water-cooled configurations.
Chilled Water Coil
| A cooling coil within air-handling equipment where chilled water absorbs heat from air passing over it. |
Chilled Water Pump Tank
| A specific type of pump tank system designed for chilled water circulation and storage. |
Condensate Trap
| A component used to capture and drain condensation, preventing water accumulation and system inefficiency. |
Cooling Tower
| A heat rejection device that removes heat from water-cooled systems by evaporative cooling or air exchange. |
Cooling Tower Pump Tank
| Pump tank assemblies used to circulate water from cooling towers, often built with corrosion-resistant materials. |
D
Dial Thermometer
| An analog temperature gauge often used to monitor discharge air and chilled water lines. |
Drift Eliminator
| A component that captures water droplets from escaping with discharge air in a cooling tower. |
Dual Scale Pressure Gauge
| A gauge that reads pressure in two measurement units, typically PSI and bar. |
E
Evaporator
| A heat exchanger that absorbs heat from process fluid to be transferred out of the system via the refrigerant. |
Evaporator Flow Switch
| A sensor that ensures water flow through the evaporator; helps prevent freezing or compressor failure. |
F
Fiberglass Cooling Tower
| AEC fiberglass cooling tower series offering corrosion resistance, high efficiency, and UV-protected components. |
Filter Dryer
| A refrigeration component that removes moisture and contaminants from refrigerant to prevent system damage. |
G
Gel Coat / UV Inhibitor
| A protective outer layer on fiberglass surfaces that resists UV degradation. |
H
Hot Gas Bypass
| A capacity control method that redirects hot refrigerant gas to maintain minimum system load. |
I
Induced-Draft Design
| A cooling tower design that pulls air through the system using fans at the discharge end. |
Insulated Drip Pan
| A pan beneath cooling coils that collects condensation while minimizing thermal loss. |
Insulated Process Piping
| Piping covered with thermal insulation to prevent energy loss and condensation. |
L
Low GWP Refrigerant
| A refrigerant with a lower Global Warming Potential, such as R-454B, used for sustainable operation. |
M
Microchannel Condenser
| A high-efficiency heat exchanger that uses small flat tubes and fins to cool refrigerant. |
Modular Chiller
| A chiller designed to operate independently or in tandem with others, allowing system scalability. |
N
Non-Ferrous Construction
Use of materials like stainless steel, brass, and copper that resist corrosion in chilled water systems.
Non-Slip Pump Deck
| A safety-enhanced surface around pumps that prevents slipping during maintenance. |
P
Packaged Chiller
| A self-contained chiller that includes a refrigeration circuit, pump, and tank in one cabinet. |
PID Controller
| A microprocessor-based controller that adjusts cooling parameters using Proportional-Integral-Derivative logic. |
Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger
| A device that transfers heat between two fluids using thin metal plates bolted together. |
Plug-and-Play Chiller
| A system with built-in controls and communication that easily integrates with existing equipment or other chiller modules. |
Portable Chiller
| A mobile chilling unit used to cool one or more processes with flexibility in location and installation. |
Pre-Piped Control Valve
| A factory-installed valve that automatically adjusts chilled water flow to maintain air or fluid temperature. |
Process Cooling
| The use of chilled water or air systems to remove heat from industrial processes, improving efficiency and product consistency. |
Process Water Bypass Valve
| A system protection feature that redirects flow if back pressure exceeds safe levels. |
Pump Tank
| An integrated reservoir and pump system used to distribute chilled water from central or packaged chillers. |
R
Redundant Design
| A system configuration where backup components (like compressors or controls) automatically take over to reduce downtime. |
Refrigeration Access Ports
| Service ports used for checking pressures and charging or recovering refrigerant. |
Reverse Rotation Protection
| A safety feature that prevents compressor damage from electrical phase reversal. |
S
Scroll Compressor
| A reliable and efficient type of compressor that uses scroll-shaped components to compress refrigerant. |
Shell and Tube Condenser
| A condenser design where refrigerant flows through tubes surrounded by water. |
Sight Glass
| A transparent section of a refrigeration line that allows technicians to monitor refrigerant flow and condition. |
Static Pressure Fan
| A fan designed to maintain air flow under a defined resistance level, measured in inches of water column or Pascals. |
Switchover Package
| A cooling tower accessory allowing water to bypass a chiller during colder ambient conditions. |
T
Tandem Scroll Compressor
| A pair of scroll compressors used together to increase efficiency and provide staged cooling capacity. |
TEFC Pump Motor
A Totally Enclosed Fan-cooled pump motor that is sealed to protect against moisture and corrosion.
Thermal Expansion Valve
| A valve that controls refrigerant flow into the evaporator based on cooling demand and system pressure. |
Thermal Relief Valve
| A safety valve that releases refrigerant if system pressure exceeds safe limits. |
Thermometer (Field Mounted)
| A fluid temperature monitoring device installed on-site for direct readouts. |
Tube-in-Tube Evaporator
| A heat exchanger design where one tube carries refrigerant and the other carries process fluid for efficient cooling. |
