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Below is a simplified explanation of the cycles in the water-cooled chiller single-line diagram
(SLD)
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Water-Cooled Chiller Cycles Explained
This diagram shows how a water-cooled chiller works to cool a room. It has four main cycles:
Refrigeration Cycle, Condenser Water Cycle, Chilled Water Cycle, and Air Cycle. Each cycle
has a specific job and works with different parts of the system.
1. Refrigeration Cycle (Red Line)
• What It Does: This cycle cools the system by moving a special liquid called refrigerant.
• How It Works:
o The Compressor squeezes the refrigerant gas, making it hot and high-pressure.
o The hot gas goes to the Condenser, where it cools down and turns into a medium-
temperature liquid.
o The liquid moves to the Expansion Valve, which lowers its pressure and makes it very
cold.
o The cold refrigerant goes to the Evaporator, where it absorbs heat and turns back into a
gas.
o The gas returns to the Compressor, and the cycle repeats.
• Job: The refrigerant takes heat from the chilled water and moves it to the condenser water.
2. Condenser Water Cycle (Blue Line)
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• What It Does: This cycle helps remove heat from the refrigerant.
• How It Works:
o The Cooling Tower sits at the top and cools the water by blowing air over it.
o The cooled water is sent to the Condenser Pump.
o The pump pushes the water into the Condenser.
o In the Condenser, the water takes heat from the hot refrigerant and gets warmer.
o The warm water goes back to the Cooling Tower to cool down again.
• Job: The condenser water takes heat from the refrigerant and releases it to the air in the cooling
tower.
3. Chilled Water Cycle (Green Line)
• What It Does: This cycle sends cold water to cool the air for the room.
• How It Works:
o The Evaporator cools the water by using the cold refrigerant.
o The cold water is called "chilled water supply."
o The Primary Pump pushes the chilled water out of the Evaporator.
o The Secondary Pump helps send the chilled water to the AHU/FCU (Air Handling Unit or
Fan Coil Unit).
o The AHU/FCU uses the cold water to cool the air.
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o The water gets warmer after cooling the air and is called "chilled water return."
o The warm water returns to the Evaporator to get cooled again.
• Job: The chilled water cools the air that goes into the room.
4. Air Cycle (Yellow Line)
• What It Does: This cycle moves air to keep the room cool.
• How It Works:
o Warm air from the Room (called "return air") goes to the AHU/FCU.
o The AHU/FCU cools the air using the chilled water.
o The cooled air (called "supply air") is sent back to the Room.
• Job: The air cycle keeps the room cool by circulating cold air.
How It All Works Together
• The Refrigeration Cycle cools the water in the Evaporator.
• The Condenser Water Cycle takes the heat away from the refrigerant using the Cooling Tower.
• The Chilled Water Cycle sends cold water to the AHU/FCU to cool the air.
• The Air Cycle moves the cooled air into the room to keep it comfortable.
This system works together to remove heat from the room and release it outside, keeping the
room cool and comfortable.
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