A water chiller
[George F Van Patten. Hydroponic Basics.] is a device used to lower the temperature of water. Most chillers use refrigerant in a closed loop system to facilitate heat exchange from water where the refrigerant is then pumped to a location where the
waste heat is transferred to the
atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...
. However, there are other methods in performing this action.
In
hydroponics, pumps, lights and ambient heat can warm the reservoir water temperatures, leading to plant root and health problems. For ideal plant health, a chiller can be used to lower the water temperature below ambient level; is a good temperature for most plants. This results in healthy root production and efficient absorption of nutrients.
In
air conditioning,
chilled water is often used to cool a building's air and equipment, especially in situations where many individual rooms must be controlled separately, such as a hotel. A chiller lowers water temperature to between and before the water is pumped to the location to be cooled.
[How Stuff Works: How Air Conditioners Work-Chilled-water and Cooling-tower AC Units]
/ref>
See also
* Chiller
*Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fruits ...
Notes
{{Hydroculture
Hydroponics
Cooling technology
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Mechanical engineering