Radiator vs. Chiller — What's the Difference?

Used to cool the engine in cars, transferring heat to the air.

Often uses water or glycol as a refrigerant.

Commonly made of metal that conducts heat well.

A machine that removes heat from a liquid through a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle.

A device for heating the surrounding environment by radiating heat.

Integral to HVAC systems for cooling buildings.

Part of a central heating system.

Can serve large-scale industrial cooling needs.

Operates through natural convection or with fans.

Includes components like compressors, evaporators, and condensers.

Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics.A radiator is always a source of heat to its environment, although this may be for either the purpose of heating this environment, or for cooling the fluid or coolant supplied to it, as for automotive engine cooling and HVAC dry cooling towers.

A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid coolant via a vapor-compression, adsorption refrigeration, or absorption refrigeration cycles. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool equipment, or another process stream (such as air or process water).

A heating device consisting of a series of pipes, typically inside an upright metal structure, through which steam or hot water circulates to heat the surrounding space by radiation or convection.

One that chills.

A similar heating device based on other technology such as the generation of heat through electrical resistance.

A frightening story, especially one involving violence, evil, or the supernatural; a thriller.

A cooling device, as in automotive engines, through which water or other fluids circulate as a coolant.

Something that chills

(Physics) A body that emits radiation.

A machine that produces cold air, either for air conditioning, to prepare chilled foods etc.

A transmitting antenna.

A heat exchanger between a coolant and a refrigerant, to transfer heat from the coolant loop into the refrigeration system

Anything which radiates or emits rays.

A machine that removes heat from the working fluid in a refrigeration cycle

(automotive) A device that lowers engine coolant temperature by conducting heat to the air, through metal fins.

A frightening dramatic work, such as a book or film

(of buildings) A finned metal fixture that carries hot water or steam in order to heat a room.

Excitation that makes your hair stand up or that chills your bones;

(electronics) A type of antenna.

That which radiates or emits rays, whether of light or heat; especially, that part of a heating apparatus from which the heat is radiated or diffused; as, a steam radiator.

Any of various devices for cooling an internal substance by radiation, as a system of rings on a gun barrel for cooling it, or a nest of tubes with large radiating surface for cooling circulating water, as in an automobile.

An oscillator.

Any object that radiates energy

Heater consisting of a series of pipes for circulating steam or hot water to heat rooms or buildings

A mechanism consisting of a metal honeycomb through which hot fluids circulate; heat is transferred from the fluid through the honeycomb to the airstream that is created either by the motion of the vehicle or by a fan

Yes, chillers are generally more expensive due to their complexity and the technology involved.

Radiators primarily heat spaces. They are not designed to cool rooms.

Radiators dissipate heat through convection, while chillers remove heat using a refrigeration cycle.

Yes, including steam, hot water, and electric radiators, each suited to different applications.

While primarily used for cooling, some chiller systems can be reversed to provide heating.

It depends on the specific application. Chillers are often better for precise temperature control and large-scale cooling.

Radiators themselves do not always require electricity, especially in passive heating systems. However, systems with fans or pumps do.

Both can be energy-intensive, but chillers typically consume more energy due to their refrigeration cycle.

Yes, but they are more commonly found in commercial or industrial settings due to their size and cost.

Regular inspection and maintenance of compressors, evaporators, condensers, and the refrigerant are essential.

Consider the application, cooling needs, ambient temperature, and budget.

Radiators can provide heating, while chillers contribute to the cooling component of HVAC systems.

Advances include improved energy efficiency, compact designs, and integration with smart home systems.

Radiators are commonly used in automotive cooling systems; chillers are not typically used in vehicles.

Radiators are more efficient in cooler environments as they rely on the difference in temperature to dissipate heat.