Chiller Installation & Design Course

Join our Chiller Installation & Design Course

MEP Academy

Noblesville, IN 46060, USA

About the Course

The Chiller Installation & Design Course is a specialized training program designed for engineers, technicians, and facility professionals who want to master the design, installation, and operation of chiller plants and chilled water systems in modern buildings.

This comprehensive course covers everything from fundamental chiller principles to advanced topics such as variable primary flow systems, chiller sequencing, gray water integration, and sustainable plant design. Participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical field skills required to design, install, commission, and maintain high-performance chiller plants for high-rise buildings, hospitals, data centers, and industrial facilities.

In addition to core chiller design, the course includes a dedicated module on the Chilled Water Circulation System, ensuring learners understand the hydraulic backbone that connects chillers to AHUs and FCUs. To address sustainability and water conservation, the course also introduces the Gray Water System, showing how treated gray water can be integrated for cooling tower makeup and other building services—a critical skill in regions prioritizing green building practices and Vision 2030 goals.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the principles and classifications of chillers (air-cooled, water-cooled, absorption, magnetic-bearing).
Perform chiller plant design calculations including load, flow rates, pump heads, and pipe sizing.
Design and install chilled water circulation systems (primary, secondary, and variable primary flow).
Select and integrate cooling towers, pumps, and control systems with energy-efficient strategies.
Commission, test, and troubleshoot chiller systems with proper documentation.
Apply operation & maintenance best practices to ensure long-term performance.
Integrate gray water treatment and reuse into HVAC systems for sustainable building design.
Align with international standards (ASHRAE, AHRI, IPC) and local codes for compliance.

Who Should Enroll

Mechanical & MEP Engineers.
HVAC Technicians & Supervisors.
Facilities Managers & Maintenance Engineers.
Project Managers in Construction & Building Services.
Students and professionals seeking a career in HVAC & Sustainable Building Design.

Why Take This Course?

Industry-Relevant Skills: Practical tools, formulas, and design methods used in real-world projects.
Sustainability Focus: Learn how to conserve energy & water while meeting green building requirements.
Case Studies & Projects: Work on sample projects such as high-rise buildings, hospitals, and data centers.
Career Growth: Gain the knowledge to advance into HVAC Project Management, Facility Management, and Sustainable Design roles.

Course Overview

The Chiller Installation & Design Course is a complete training program that equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to design, install, and manage high-performance chiller plants and chilled water systems for modern buildings. Covering both technical fundamentals and advanced applications, this course blends theory with real-world practices to ensure learners are industry-ready.

Participants will begin with an introduction to chillers and their classifications, before moving into detailed design principles, including cooling load calculations, chiller selection, pipe sizing, pump head determination, and plant configurations (primary-only, primary-secondary, and variable primary flow). The course emphasizes installation best practices, from rigging and placement to piping, electrical, vibration isolation, and integration with Building Management Systems (BMS).

A dedicated module on the Chilled Water Circulation System provides practical insight into pumps, expansion tanks, strainers, balancing valves, and differential pressure control strategies. To align with sustainability goals, the course also integrates a Gray Water System module, demonstrating how treated gray water can be reused for cooling tower make-up and other non-potable building services, reducing potable water consumption and achieving compliance with green building standards.

Learners will also gain expertise in commissioning procedures, testing, and balancing, as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) techniques to maximize efficiency, reliability, and lifecycle performance. Case studies from high-rise buildings, hospitals, and data centers provide context, while a capstone project challenges participants to design a full chiller plant with integrated water-saving strategies.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to design and install chilled water systems confidently, apply sustainability practices, troubleshoot performance issues, and implement effective O&M strategies, positioning themselves for growth in HVAC, MEP, and sustainable building industries.

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Chillers

Role of chillers in HVAC systems.
Types of chillers (air-cooled, water-cooled, absorption, magnetic-bearing).
Applications in high-rise, hospitals, data centers, and industrial projects.
Efficiency metrics: COP, kW/ton, IPLV, NPLV.

Module 2: Chiller Design Principles

Cooling load calculation recap (ASHRAE methods).
Flow & capacity formulas:
Tons=500×GPM×ΔT12,000Tons = \frac{500 \times GPM \times \Delta T}{12,000}Tons=12,000500×GPM×ΔT
Typical chilled water ΔT (10–16°F) and condenser ΔT (9–12°F).
Pipe sizing, velocity limits, and pump head calculation.
Series, parallel, and variable-primary configurations.
Chiller plant room layout & space planning.

Module 3: Refrigerants & Sustainability

Refrigerant classifications (ASHRAE 34).
Low-GWP refrigerants (R-1234ze, R-514A).
Safety considerations (toxic, flammable, A1 vs A2L vs B).
LEED, WELL, and green building requirements.

Module 4: Installation Guidelines

Site preparation & foundations.
Rigging, lifting, and positioning chillers.
Pipe connections: chilled water, condenser water, drain, vent.
Vibration isolation, expansion joints, supports.
Electrical installation: VFDs, starters, grounding, cable routing.
Controls integration: sensors, DP transmitters, BMS wiring.

Module 5: Cooling Towers & Pumps

Cooling tower sizing & selection.
Condenser water loop design.
Pump selection: chilled water, condenser water, secondary/tertiary.
NPSH considerations, cavitation prevention.
Variable speed pumping systems.

Module 6: Chiller Controls & Sequencing

BMS integration and control points.
CHWS setpoint reset, condenser water reset.
Sequencing strategies: staging, part-load efficiency.
Alarms, safeties, interlocks.
Trend logging and energy monitoring.

Module 7: Commissioning & Testing

Pre-commissioning checks (flushing, strainer cleaning, sensor calibration).
Factory acceptance test (FAT) vs Site acceptance test (SAT).
Start-up checklist: pumps, tower fans, bypasses, safeties.
Performance testing: approach temps, kW/ton, ΔT.
Documentation & handover.

Module 8: Operation & Maintenance

Routine O&M tasks: tube cleaning, water treatment, refrigerant/oil analysis.
Preventive vs predictive maintenance.
Common problems: low ΔT syndrome, fouling, and non-condensables.
Troubleshooting charts.
Case studies from hospitals, offices, and data centers.

Module 9: Advanced Topics

Heat recovery chillers.
Thermal energy storage (TES) with chillers.
Hybrid plants (VRF + Chiller, District cooling).
Smart chillers with AI/IoT monitoring.

Module 10: Capstone Project

Design a 1,200 TR water-cooled chiller plant.
Include: load estimation, chiller selection, pump sizing, cooling tower selection, piping layout, and control sequences.
Submit detailed drawings, calculations, and commissioning plan.

How long is the course?

The course duration is a Total of 40 to 60 hours and it varies, typically spanning several weeks with flexible scheduling options.

Is certification provided?

Yes, participants receive certification upon successful completion of the course.

Certification & Benefits

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a “Certified HVAC Chiller Installation & Design Professional” certificate. This certification validates your ability to:

Design, install, and commission chiller plants and chilled water systems.
Integrate sustainable solutions such as gray water reuse for cooling tower make-up.
Apply international standards (ASHRAE, AHRI, IPC) and local codes in real-world projects.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and optimize chiller plant performance for long-term reliability.

This certification can be used to demonstrate professional competency to employers, clients, and regulatory authorities, strengthening your credibility in the HVAC, MEP, and facilities management industries.

Benefits of the Course

✅ Career Advancement – Open doors to roles in HVAC Design, Project Engineering, Facilities Management, and Sustainability Consulting.
✅ Practical Knowledge – Gain hands-on skills in chiller selection, pump sizing, pipe design, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
✅ Sustainability Edge – Learn how to integrate gray water systems and optimize water/energy use to meet green building requirements (LEED, WELL, Estidama, Vision 2030).
✅ Industry Recognition – Earn a certificate that adds value to your professional profile and showcases your specialization in chiller systems.
✅ Global Standards – Course content aligns with ASHRAE, SMACNA, AHRI, and IPC, ensuring international applicability.
✅ Capstone Project Experience – Work on a real-world chiller plant design project (high-rise, hospital, or data center) that can be showcased in your professional portfolio.
✅ Networking Opportunities – Connect with fellow engineers, technicians, and facility managers in the MEP community.