What are more common? HVAC chilled water or dry coolers?

Question

I am filling out a questionnaire asking about our HVAC. I don't know much about them and I don't have access to the condenser, but I am assuming our system is pretty common. Anyone know much about HVACs?

Answer 1

Large areas (>10000ft.sq) usually chilled water small dry

Answer 2

Chilled water systems are typically used in larger building and utilize an outdoor cooling tower as part of the heat rejection process. The cooling towers are relatively large with piping connected to the basin and fans or blowers on the side or top. Direct expansion systems (if that's what you mean by "dry coolers" transfer heat to the outdoor air through copper or aluminum coils contained in an enclosure called a condenser. Typically, these are small and have a fan or blower on the top. There are also "evaporative coolers" that simply used a water spray into the air stream to cool the air. These are only used (and effective) in very dry climates.