Rental chillers are sized in tons of refrigeration (TR), where 1 TR is about 3.517 kW of cooling. Choose the capacity from a heat-load calculation, pick air-cooled for quick temporary setups, and agree who provides pumps, power, hoses and the engineer. These items usually decide how fast the plant runs.
- 1 TR ≈ 3.517 kW of cooling; size from a heat-load calculation, not floor area alone.
- Air-cooled chillers need no cooling tower and suit temporary use; water-cooled need one.
- Agree the chilled water temperatures, flow, power supply and connection hoses in advance.
When rental chillers are used
- Process cooling during a breakdown or overhaul of a plant's own chiller.
- Events, temporary structures and seasonal peaks.
- Construction stages such as concrete cooling or building commissioning.
Air-cooled or water-cooled
| Air-cooled | Water-cooled | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling tower | Not needed | Needed |
| Setup | Faster, fewer connections | More connections and water treatment |
| Best for | Temporary and emergency hire | Long-term or very large loads where a tower exists |
What to tell suppliers
- Cooling load in TR or kW, from your HVAC consultant or the existing plant's data.
- Chilled water supply and return temperatures, and flow rate.
- Where the chiller will stand, access for delivery, and the distance to your connection point.
- Available power supply, or whether you also need a generator.
- Duration and running hours.
Who arranges what
| Item | Who usually arranges it |
|---|---|
| Chiller rent | Supplier |
| Chilled water pumps | Varies: check the quote |
| Power supply to the plant | Usually customer's scope, or a separate generator |
| Installation and commissioning | Varies: check the quote |
| Hoses and connections to your system | Varies: check lengths included |
| On-site engineer | Varies: check hours and shifts |
| Decommissioning | Varies: check the quote |
"Usually" means what quotes commonly say; each supplier states it in their quote on Clexen, so you can compare line by line.
If the site has no spare power, quotes for a matching diesel generator can be compared alongside.
When you know roughly what you need, request quotes on Clexen. Describe the cooling load and site and suppliers near your site will propose the right size; you can also browse what is listed.
Frequently asked questions
How many kW is 1 TR?
One ton of refrigeration is about 3.517 kW of cooling.
How do I size a rental chiller?
From a heat-load calculation or the existing plant data, with the chilled water temperatures and flow. Floor area alone is not a reliable guide.
Do rental chillers need a cooling tower?
Air-cooled chillers do not. Water-cooled chillers need a cooling tower and water treatment.