SongXin HVAC is a Chinese water-cooled chiller manufacturer and supplier for commercial HVAC plants, industrial process cooling, hospitals, hotels, factories, data centers and large infrastructure projects worldwide. Manufacturing since 2009 and shipping to 40+ countries, SongXin produces water-cooled screw chillers from 190 to 3600 kW and centrifugal water-cooled chillers from 350 to 2000 kW.
As a water-cooled chiller supplier, SongXin helps buyers evaluate real operating conditions rather than choosing equipment by catalogue capacity alone. Correct selection depends on cooling load, chilled-water temperature, condenser-water temperature, cooling tower conditions, water flow, compressor type, energy target, installation space, controls and maintenance capability. Every unit is 100% tested for performance, pressure and noise before shipment, and backed by ISO 9001, ISO 14001, CE, AHRI, RoHS and 3C certification.
For large cooling projects, the chiller is only one part of the system. Final performance depends on the full plant — pumps, cooling towers, AHUs, fan coil units, controls, water treatment and commissioning.
Quick Answer for Buyers
SongXin offers two main water-cooled chiller families. The water-cooled screw chiller (190–3600 kW) uses a screw compressor in fixed-speed or inverter form, with flooded or falling-film evaporators, and is the practical choice for medium to large commercial and industrial plants. The centrifugal water-cooled chiller (350–2000 kW) is built for very large central plants where high efficiency at scale matters, with a peak COP up to 6.6 kW/kW. Both reject heat to a condenser-water loop and cooling tower, and both can be staged for redundancy.
Before requesting a quotation, prepare: cooling capacity, chilled-water supply/return temperature, condenser-water entering/leaving temperature, chilled-water and condenser-water flow, application type, operating schedule, power supply, noise requirement, control/BMS requirement and delivery destination.
What Is a Water-Cooled Chiller?
A water-cooled chiller produces chilled water by removing heat from a water loop and rejecting that heat to a condenser-water system. The condenser water usually flows to a cooling tower, where heat is rejected to outdoor air. The chilled water is then circulated to air handling units, fan coil units, process equipment or other cooling loads.
Water-cooled chillers are used in central plants where efficiency, stable operation and large capacity matter. SongXin states up to 30% energy savings versus air-cooled systems under favorable conditions, because water rejects heat more effectively than air — though this advantage depends on cooling tower performance and condenser-water temperature.
SongXin Water-Cooled Chiller Range
| Chiller Type | Capacity | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water-cooled screw chiller | 190–3600 kW | Medium to large commercial and industrial cooling | Fixed-speed or inverter screw; flooded or falling-film evaporator |
| Centrifugal water-cooled chiller | 350–2000 kW | Very large central HVAC plants | High efficiency at scale; peak COP up to 6.6 kW/kW |
| Dynamic gas/air-bearing centrifugal chiller | Large central plants | Lifecycle energy-critical applications | Oil-free bearing technology; high part-load efficiency |
| Multiple-chiller staging (N+1) | Any capacity via parallel units | Hospitals, process cooling, phased or critical facilities | Redundancy and staged part-load operation |
For projects where water or tower maintenance is difficult, SongXin also supplies air-cooled screw chillers as an alternative.
Water-Cooled Screw Chiller Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cooling capacity | 190–3600 kW |
| Compressor | Screw, fixed-speed or inverter |
| Evaporator | Flooded type or falling-film type |
| Refrigerants | R134a, R407C, R513A, R1234ze (low-GWP available) |
| Ambient range | −20°C to +55°C |
| Power supply | 380 / 400 / 415V, 3Ph, 50/60Hz (customisable) |
| Noise | Low-noise design, tested per ISO 3744 |
| Controls | Microprocessor controller, BMS-ready |
The wide 190–3600 kW range covers a single hotel or factory plant up to mega-scale district cooling. Inverter-driven models improve part-load efficiency. Falling-film evaporators can raise efficiency at large capacities versus flooded designs.
Centrifugal Water-Cooled Chiller Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cooling capacity | 350–2000 kW |
| Compressor | Centrifugal, fixed-speed or variable-speed |
| Heat exchanger | High-efficiency shell-and-tube |
| Refrigerants | R134a or low-GWP options (customisable) |
| Peak COP | Up to 6.6 kW/kW (at favorable conditions) |
| Power supply | 3Ph, 380 / 6000 / 10000V, 50Hz |
| Design life | Over 50,000 hours |
Centrifugal units suit very large central plants — office towers, malls, hospitals, airports and district cooling. Medium-voltage options (6000/10000V) matter for large facilities with high-voltage distribution. Variable-speed centrifugal compressors significantly improve part-load efficiency. The 6.6 kW/kW COP is a peak value at favorable conditions; SongXin provides full-load and part-load performance at the project rating point on request.
For oil-free, high part-load efficiency applications, SongXin’s dynamic air-bearing centrifugal chiller uses oil-free bearing technology for even lower lifecycle energy costs.
Where Water-Cooled Chillers Are Used
Projects with long operating hours and strong, stable cooling demand benefit most from a water-cooled chiller plant:
Water-Cooled Chiller vs Air-Cooled Chiller
| Factor | Water-Cooled Chiller | Air-Cooled Chiller |
|---|---|---|
| Heat rejection | Cooling tower and condenser-water loop | Outdoor air through condenser fans |
| Efficiency | Often stronger for large stable loads (up to ~30% savings) | Practical where water or tower maintenance is difficult |
| Installation | Requires plant coordination and tower space | Outdoor installation is often simpler |
| Maintenance | Requires tower, condenser water and water treatment | Less water-side maintenance |
| Best use | Large buildings, central plants, industrial cooling | Medium loads, equipment yards, water-limited sites |
| Key risk | Poor water treatment, tower sizing or condenser-water temperature | High-ambient derating and airflow recirculation |
The best choice depends on local climate, water availability, operating hours, maintenance resources and total lifecycle cost. See also: SongXin air-cooled screw chiller.
Engineering Selection Workflow
See the full comparison at Air-Cooled vs Water-Cooled Screw Chillers. The key selection steps are:
-
Confirm cooling duty. For comfort cooling, use the building load calculation; for process cooling, use the process heat load, required fluid temperature and operating hours.
-
Confirm chilled-water temperature. Comfort systems often use ~7/12°C, but process cooling may need different conditions. Lower chilled-water temperatures reduce efficiency and may require special selection.
-
Confirm condenser-water conditions. This is one of the most important inputs. If the cooling tower cannot deliver the assumed water temperature, the chiller loses capacity or consumes more energy.
-
Review part-load operation. Most buildings run below full load most of the time. Inverter screw and variable-speed centrifugal units improve real annual energy use.
-
Coordinate the full plant. The chiller must be matched with pumps, cooling towers, AHUs, FCUs, pipe sizing, valves, controls and water treatment.
Engineering Capacity and Flow Calculations
A serious water-cooled chiller quotation should include a basic water-side calculation:
| Formula | Use |
|---|---|
| Cooling kW = flow m³/h × ΔT°C × 1.163 | Checks evaporator-side cooling transfer |
| Flow m³/h = kW ÷ (1.163 × ΔT°C) | Estimates required chilled-water flow |
| RT = kW ÷ 3.517 | Converts kW to refrigeration tons |
| Heat rejection ≈ cooling kW + compressor power | Helps size the cooling tower and condenser-water loop |
Condenser-Water Temperature and Efficiency Logic
Water-cooled chillers are sensitive to condenser-water temperature. Lower entering condenser-water temperature improves efficiency because the compressor works against a lower condensing pressure; higher temperature increases compressor lift and energy use. Cooling tower performance depends on local wet-bulb temperature, tower sizing, airflow, water flow and maintenance.
A chiller rated at an optimistic condenser-water condition can look efficient on paper but underperform in hot, humid climates such as the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. For fair comparison, ask each supplier to state the same rating conditions — a unit rated at 30°C entering condenser water cannot be compared directly with one rated at 32°C.
SongXin provides performance at your actual condenser-water condition rather than only at a nominal point.
Procurement Risks in Water-Cooled Chiller Projects
-
Ignoring cooling tower conditions. An undersized or poorly maintained tower means the chiller never reaches its rated performance.
-
Comparing only nominal capacity. Two chillers with the same nominal kW can differ significantly under real chilled and condenser-water conditions.
-
No water treatment plan. Scaling, fouling and corrosion reduce heat transfer, raise compressor power and shorten life.
-
No part-load strategy. Large plants run mostly at partial load; without staging and proper control, energy use is higher than expected.
-
Treating process cooling like comfort cooling. Industrial process loads need tighter temperature stability, longer hours, backup capacity and special fluid conditions.
Why Choose SongXin as Your Water-Cooled Chiller Supplier
SongXin has manufactured commercial and industrial HVAC equipment since 2009, with multiple production bases, national-level testing laboratories (verified from −40°C to +55°C) and more than 100 patents.
ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, AHRI, RoHS and 3C, with test reports and traceability for tender and project approval.
Full performance verification, pressure and leak testing, and noise testing per ISO 3744 before every shipment.
Standard R134a and R407C plus low-GWP R513A and R1234ze, helping buyers meet F-gas and import regulations.
Capacity, compressor type (fixed or inverter/variable), evaporator type, voltage (including medium voltage) and controls tailored per project.
Free pre-sales selection, CAD drawings, full-load and part-load data, and project design and installation guidance.
EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP terms; full export documentation; service partners in major global markets.
Export and Logistics for Overseas Buyers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Power supply | 380/400/415V 3Ph 50/60Hz standard; 6000/10000V medium voltage for large centrifugal plants |
| Trade terms | EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP |
| Lead time | Confirmed per project — large custom chillers are production-scheduled at order |
| Payment | T/T, L/C, or Western Union for small orders; typically 30% deposit, 70% balance before shipment |
| Documentation | Test reports, compliance records and serial traceability for customs and approvals |
| Local support | Service partners in major global markets for installation and after-sales |
Project Case Study
Manufacturing Plant — Two Water-Cooled Chillers + Pump Station
SongXin supplied two water-cooled chillers totaling 600 TR (~2110 kW) with a hydronic pump station for a manufacturing plant in Southeast Asia. The brief prioritised higher efficiency under peak load and a simplified maintenance plan.
Commissioning was supported with full test reports, which helped the plant verify performance and pass internal approvals. The two-chiller arrangement also provided staging flexibility and partial backup for continuous production.
Plant-Level RFQ Specification
For a professional RFQ, define the chiller and plant boundary clearly. A complete specification should state:
- Scope: chiller only, chiller plus pumps, or full plant
- Rated chilled-water and condenser-water temperatures
- Required actual capacity at project condition
- Full-load and part-load efficiency (IPLV or NPLV)
- Compressor type and refrigerant preference (include F-gas or import regulation)
- Evaporator and condenser type, pressure rating and allowable pressure drop
- Controls and BMS protocol (Modbus, BACnet, LonWorks, etc.)
- Protection functions: flow switch, freeze protection, high/low pressure, overload
- Factory testing requirements and documentation scope
Clear RFQ language filters out quotations that omit critical conditions or scope, preventing apparent cost differences that disappear at delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standards and Review Notes
Author: SongXin HVAC engineering content team. Updated: July 1, 2026. Technical review: water-cooled chiller sizing, plant RFQ conditions and export documentation reviewed by SongXin HVAC application engineering.
Chiller capacity and efficiency change with chilled-water temperature, condenser-water temperature, flow rate, fouling allowance and part-load profile. Use the values on this page as procurement guidance, then request a project-rated performance table for the final submittal.
- AHRI 550/590 and 551/591 for water-chilling package performance-rating context.
- ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 for energy-efficiency design context in commercial buildings.
- SongXin certification and compliance records for company-level ISO, CE, AHRI, RoHS and 3C evidence used on this page.
SongXin HVAC Equipment Co., Ltd. is a global manufacturer of commercial and industrial HVAC systems, manufacturing since 2009 and supplying projects in 40+ countries. The range covers water-cooled screw and centrifugal chillers, air-cooled screw chillers, oil-free centrifugal chillers, air handling units, fan coil units, heat pumps, DX and VRF systems and precision cooling.
SongXin supports buyers with selection data, engineering discussion, certification documents, export packing and delivery coordination.
Request Water-Cooled Chiller Selection
Send your cooling capacity, chilled-water and condenser-water temperatures, tower data and application. SongXin will review the working conditions and recommend a suitable water-cooled chiller within 24 hours.
Quick start: Not ready for a full RFQ? Just send three things — project location, application (e.g. hotel, factory, data center), and approximate cooling capacity in kW or TR.
Quotation note: Prices are project-based and confirmed after SongXin reviews capacity, chilled-water and condenser-water conditions, compressor type, quantity, destination and documentation requirements.
Get in Touch