Air-Cooled Screw Chiller Supplier for Commercial and Industrial Cooling
SongXin supplies air-cooled screw chillers for commercial HVAC systems, industrial process cooling, public buildings, manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects. Built for stable outdoor operation, easy installation and reliable chilled-water production — without a cooling tower.
Get a Chiller Quote
As an air-cooled screw chiller supplier, SongXin focuses on project selection, real operating conditions and long-term reliability. Instead of choosing equipment only by nominal tonnage, our team helps check ambient temperature, chilled-water temperature, flow rate, installation space, electrical supply and control requirements.
Two chillers with the same tonnage can behave very differently in the field. The right configuration depends on the climate, fluid, water-side resistance, part-load profile and how the unit will actually be installed.
Quick Answer for Buyers
An air-cooled screw chiller is a strong choice when a project needs medium or large chilled-water cooling capacity but does not want a cooling tower. It is commonly used for commercial HVAC, industrial process cooling, hospitals, workshops, shopping centers, hotels, laboratories and infrastructure projects. The supplier should confirm cooling capacity at your real ambient temperature and chilled-water temperature, not only provide a nominal tonnage.
If you are comparing air-cooled screw chiller suppliers, ask for rated condition, compressor configuration, refrigerant, water-side pressure drop, control system, noise level, protection functions, installation clearance and factory testing plan. These details matter more than the lowest initial price.
What Is an Air-Cooled Screw Chiller?
An air-cooled screw chiller is a chilled-water cooling unit that uses a screw compressor and air-cooled condenser. It removes heat from water and rejects that heat directly to outdoor air through condenser fans.
The chilled water is then circulated to air handling units, fan coil units or process equipment. Because the condenser is air-cooled, the system does not require a cooling tower, condenser water pump or additional water treatment system.
Why Choose an Air-Cooled Screw Chiller?
Air-cooled screw chillers are widely used in projects that need medium to large cooling capacity with simpler outdoor installation. For broader planning support, see SongXin’s project design and installation service.
No Cooling Tower Required
Reduces water system complexity — useful where water resources are limited or tower maintenance is not preferred.
Outdoor Installation
Roof, equipment yard or platform installation — no large indoor plant room, simpler building design.
Strong Capacity Range
Screw compressor technology is suited to larger commercial and industrial cooling loads.
Lower Water Maintenance
No condenser water loop, cooling tower cleaning, scaling control or chemical water treatment.
Good Fit for Mixed Projects
Offices, hotels, hospitals, factories, shopping centers and laboratories — broad application coverage.
Stable Part-Load Operation
Compressor unloading and staged control help match real load, reducing energy use over time.
Where SongXin Air-Cooled Screw Chillers Are Used
Air-Cooled Screw Chiller vs Other Chiller Types
| Chiller Type | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air-cooled screw chiller | Medium to large loads, outdoor install, no cooling tower | Practical balance of capacity and install simplicity |
| Scroll chiller | Smaller commercial cooling loads | Often used for lower capacity projects |
| Water-cooled screw chiller | High-efficiency central plants with cooling tower | Requires condenser water system |
| Centrifugal chiller | Very large central cooling systems | Best for large stable loads and dedicated plant rooms |
If the project has a moderate or large load and needs simpler outdoor installation, an air-cooled screw chiller is often a strong option.
Key Selection Data for an Air-Cooled Screw Chiller
Correct chiller selection depends on real working conditions. Before asking for a price, prepare:
- Required cooling capacity (kW, RT or tons)
- Chilled-water inlet and outlet temperature
- Water flow rate
- Outdoor design ambient temperature
- Project location and altitude
- Power supply and electrical standard
- Refrigerant preference or local regulation
- Noise requirements
- Installation space and airflow clearance
- Control requirement (BMS, remote monitoring)
Engineering Selection Method
A good chiller quotation should be built around the actual cooling duty. For a deeper selection workflow, read SongXin’s guide on how to select an air-cooled chiller for commercial HVAC projects.
Define Cooling Duty
For comfort cooling, load comes from building heat gain, occupancy, fresh air and equipment. For process cooling, load comes from machines, production lines, water temperature rise or process heat rejection.
If glycol is used, tell the supplier — glycol changes heat transfer and pressure drop.
Confirm Chilled-Water Conditions
The leaving chilled-water temperature affects capacity and efficiency. A common comfort condition is 7 °C leaving / 12 °C return, but process projects may differ. Lower water temperatures usually reduce efficiency and may need special configuration.
Ask the supplier to confirm performance at your required leaving water temperature, not only catalog conditions.
Confirm Outdoor Design Temperature
Air-cooled chillers reject heat to outdoor air. In hot climates, condenser must be sized correctly — high ambient reduces capacity and raises compressor pressure. Rooftop or yard installation can also cause hot air recirculation.
Check Part-Load Operation
Office buildings, hotels, factories and public buildings often run at variable load. Ask how the chiller handles part load, staged operation and compressor unloading. A stable part-load strategy reduces energy use and improves temperature control.
Review Installation Conditions
Airflow clearance, service access, foundation, vibration isolation, drainage, lifting path and electrical access. Poor installation can make a good chiller perform badly.
Why Nominal Tonnage Is Not Enough
Many buyers search for a 30 ton, 50 ton or 100 ton air-cooled screw chiller. Tonnage is a useful starting point, but it is not enough for final selection.
The real output of a chiller changes with:
- Outdoor ambient temperature
- Chilled-water supply temperature
- Chilled-water return temperature
- Fouling factor
- Altitude
- Part-load operation
- Pump and piping design
- Glycol / fluid type
A 50 ton air-cooled screw chiller in one project may not perform the same in another climate or water condition. SongXin checks the project data before recommending a configuration. See the main air-cooled screw chiller product page for the broader capacity range.
Procurement Comparison: What Makes a Strong Supplier?
When buyers search for an air-cooled screw chiller manufacturer or supplier, the strongest option is usually not the one with the shortest quotation. A reliable air-cooled screw chiller supplier should help reduce project risk.
| Supplier Capability | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Selection based on real conditions | Prevents undersized or oversized equipment |
| Clear technical datasheet | Helps consultants and contractors review the proposal |
| Factory inspection support | Reduces quality risk before shipment |
| Export packing and logistics experience | Protects equipment during transport |
| Control and wiring documentation | Makes installation and commissioning easier |
| Service communication | Helps solve site questions after delivery |
| Custom options | Supports high ambient, low noise, corrosion protection or BMS |
Commercial vs Industrial Chiller Selection
Commercial HVAC and industrial process cooling often need different priorities — this should be reflected in the quotation.
| Item | Commercial HVAC | Industrial Process Cooling |
|---|---|---|
| Main target | Comfort cooling and building operation | Stable process temperature and production reliability |
| Load profile | Changes by occupancy / time of day | May run continuously or by production schedule |
| Water temperature | Standard chilled-water range | May need custom temperature range |
| Control priority | Comfort, energy saving, BMS | Temperature stability and fault protection |
| Redundancy | Depends on building importance | Often more important for production |
| Project data | Building load, AHU/FCU data, schedule | Process heat load, fluid, flow rate, required temperature |
Features Buyers Should Check
Compressor Reliability
Type, protection logic, lubrication, part-load performance and service support.
Heat Exchanger Design
Coil material, tube design and heat transfer area matched to project conditions.
Control System
Stable operation, fault protection, temperature control, staged operation, BMS interface.
Safety Protection
High/low pressure, overload, antifreeze, phase, water flow and sensor fault alarms.
Factory Testing
Quality checks before shipment according to project requirements — reduces commissioning risk.
Documentation
Wiring diagrams, control logic, installation drawings, O&M manuals supplied in advance.
Common Mistakes When Buying an Air-Cooled Screw Chiller
- Choosing by nominal tonnage only
- Ignoring outdoor design temperature
- Not checking chilled-water temperature requirements
- Installing the unit with poor airflow clearance
- Underestimating noise requirements
- Forgetting service access space
- Not confirming power supply and startup current
- Comparing suppliers only by price
- Skipping documentation and factory testing
- Not declaring glycol or fluid type
What SongXin Provides as a Chiller Supplier
SongXin supports HVAC contractors, distributors and project buyers with selection, customization and project support.
- Air-cooled screw chiller selection support
- Commercial and industrial cooling solutions
- Technical communication before order confirmation
- Custom configuration based on project conditions
- Manufacturing and quality inspection
- Export packing and global delivery
- After-sales technical coordination
SongXin Air-Cooled Screw Chiller Specifications
These are verified ranges from SongXin’s current air-cooled screw chiller line. Confirm the model-specific datasheet at your actual ambient and chilled-water conditions before ordering.
SongXin Air-Cooled Screw Chiller Series
| Cooling capacity | 173 – 1475 kW (≈ 49 – 419 RT) |
| Cooling power input | 52 – 388 kW |
| Operating ambient range | −35 °C to +48 °C |
| Water flow | 30 – 236 m³/h |
| Water-side pressure drop | ≤60 – ≤200 kPa |
| Unit dimensions (L×W×H) | 2400–8475 × 2100–2850 × 2100–2850 mm |
| Unit weight | 2,420 – 10,600 kg |
| Compressor type | Screw compressor |
| Cooling method | Air-cooled condenser (no cooling tower) |
| Installation | Outdoor; no machine room required |
| Control | Local controller, optional BMS / remote interface |
| Application | Commercial HVAC and industrial process cooling |
Example Project Scenarios
Hotel or Office Building
Chilled water for AHUs and fan coils. Send total cooling load, building schedule, noise limit, rooftop install condition, BMS requirement and local ambient temperature.
Factory Process Cooling
Stable water temperature for production equipment. Send heat load, required water temperature, flow rate, fluid type, operating hours, backup requirement and acceptable fluctuation.
Retrofit Replacement
Replacing an existing chiller. Send old model, current capacity, reason for replacement, pump flow, pipe connection, electrical supply and installation space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an air-cooled screw chiller and a water-cooled screw chiller?
An air-cooled screw chiller rejects heat directly to outdoor air and does not need a cooling tower. A water-cooled screw chiller uses condenser water and usually requires a cooling tower, condenser pump and water treatment system.
Is an air-cooled screw chiller suitable for industrial process cooling?
Yes. Selection should be based on water temperature, process heat load, operating hours and ambient conditions.
How do I choose the right chiller capacity?
Start with the project cooling load, then check chilled-water temperature, water flow, outdoor ambient temperature and part-load operation. SongXin can help review the data before recommending a model.
Can SongXin supply a 50 ton air-cooled screw chiller?
SongXin can discuss 50 ton chiller requirements and recommend a suitable configuration based on actual operating conditions. Final selection should be confirmed by cooling load and water-side data.
What information is needed for a chiller quotation?
Project location, cooling capacity, chilled-water inlet/outlet temperature, water flow, power supply, installation environment and any control or noise requirements.
What should I ask a manufacturer before ordering?
Rated conditions, actual capacity at your ambient temperature, compressor type, refrigerant, water pressure drop, noise level, protection functions, control interface, installation clearance, factory test items and shipping dimensions.
Is the lowest chiller price usually the best choice?
Not necessarily. A lower price may exclude high-ambient design, stronger controls, anti-corrosion coating, testing, documentation or export packing. Compare the technical scope before comparing price.
Can an air-cooled screw chiller connect to AHUs and fan coil units?
Yes. The chiller supplies chilled water that can be circulated to AHUs, FCUs or other air-side equipment. Pump selection, water flow and control logic should be coordinated with the full system.
About SongXin
SongXin (SXIN HVAC) is a commercial and industrial HVAC manufacturer with deep manufacturing experience and customers in over 50 countries. Air-cooled screw chillers span 173–1475 kW and operate from −35 °C to +48 °C. Units are built under ISO 9001 with CE, AHRI, EN 14511 and ROHS compliance, verified to AHRI / EN / GB/T benchmarks. SongXin also supplies water-cooled and centrifugal chillers, DX systems, heat pumps and AHUs. Contact: info@sxinhvac.com · +86 153-1889-6990.
Request an Air-Cooled Screw Chiller Quote
If you are comparing air-cooled screw chiller suppliers for a commercial or industrial project, send your project data to SongXin. Our team can help select a practical configuration for your operating conditions.
Contact SongXin for Chiller Selection →