Industry Insights - Air Cooled versus Water Cooled technology

For corporate offices that have taken the initiative to swap to an under-counter water system, have you ever noted the differences between air-cooled and water-cooled technology?

Air-cooled systems require ventilation cut-outs, ducting and fans to blow the warm air generated by the under-counter unit into the ambient air around it. It does this by converting gas into a liquid, and then back again. Quite often, if the temperature of the cupboard exceeds 36 degrees, the unit will fail to chill the water effectively due to operating above the it's optimum temperature range. This poses a challenge when installed alongside other appliances, such as dishwashers or fridges, which give off heat.

In addition, using a fan creates noise and reduces air quality through dust contamination. This can further drain your air conditioning units.

However, the challenge we see the most is aesthetics! If you are paying for a refurb, do you want mismatched grilles on your brand-new kitchen?

On the other hand, water-cooled systems do not require ventilation grilles. This technology utilizes the ‘change of state’ technology, which harvests the heat energy generated during the chilling cycle to preheat the water going into the boiling tank. Thus, water-cooled systems can achieve substantial energy savings.

The diagram here demonstrates how the technology works. Water sent towards the boiling side will first go through a scale reduction kit. The chilling process produces heat, similar to your fridge at home, which would otherwise be kicked out of the back of the cupboard space. In heat-exchange systems, this waste heat is harvested through a coil, which runs through the compressor, cooling it and preheating the water directed to the boiling side. The heat is then delivered to the boiling tank at between 40-50 degrees - substantially warmer than standard mains water temperature, resulting in less energy required to heat up and offering a much quicker recovery time.  

Heat-exchange systems come with thermally insulated tanks, which further contribute to the overall energy efficiency of the unit; not only does the heat-exchange technology contribute to the overall energy efficiency, but it also does not allow the energy to escape into the joinery. A good comparison of where water-cooled technology took off was in the automotive industry. In the past, leading car manufacturers produced air-cooled engines, but then made the switch to liquid-cooled as it was a much more efficient way of dealing with the heat.

In terms of space, boiling and chilled systems can be installed in a space as small as 500mm wide, which is considered the market-leading system in terms of overall footprint. Sparkling systems require a 600mm space, allowing for a CO2 canister to be installed. Without the need for ventilation, airflow is less important, allowing you to maximize your space. 

How do we know all of this? Billi has been a market leader in this space for 30 years; we are backed by accreditations such as the Global Green tag, further reinforcing our commitment to sustainable hydration. 

If this insight sparkled your interest, and want to learn more, reach to us on Contact Us - Billi UK (billi-uk.com) and our team will be in touch!