How Do Water Coolers Work?

Water coolers are a common sight in many workplaces, schools, and homes these days – especially in Australia, where the weather is hot and hydration is key. Water coolers provide a convenient way to dispense clean and refreshing drinking water. But have you ever wondered how these devices actually work? In this blog, we'll take a deep dive into the inner workings of water coolers and explore the science behind them.

First, let's talk about the different types of water coolers

There are two main types: bottled water coolers and bottle-less water coolers. Bottled water coolers, as the name suggests, use bottles of water that are placed on top of the cooler. Bottle-less water coolers, on the other hand, are directly connected to a water source and do not require any bottles.

How do bottled water coolers work?

Bottled water coolers work by using a process called thermoelectric cooling. Inside the cooler, there is a cooling chamber that contains a heat sink and a fan - the heat sink is made of a material that is a good conductor of heat, such as aluminium or copper. The fan blows air over the heat sink, which causes the heat to dissipate into the air.

The water bottle sits on top of the cooling chamber, and a probe is inserted into the bottle to draw water up through the cooler. As the water passes through the probe, it is cooled by the cold plate, which is located inside the cooling chamber. The cold plate is a flat metal surface that is in direct contact with the water - it cools the water by absorbing heat from it and transferring it to the heat sink.

How do bottle-less water coolers work?

Bottle-less water coolers work a little differently. They use a process called compression cooling, which is the same process used in refrigerators and air conditioners. The water is drawn from a water source, such as a tap or a water line, and passes through a filtration system to remove any impurities.

Once the water has been filtered, it enters the cooling chamber, which contains a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The compressor compresses a refrigerant gas, which causes it to become very hot. The hot gas then passes through the condenser, which is a series of coils that dissipate the heat into the surrounding air.

After the heat has been removed, the refrigerant gas enters the evaporator, which is a series of coils that are in contact with the water. As the refrigerant gas expands, it cools down and absorbs heat from the water, which causes the water to become cold - the cold water is then dispensed through a spigot, and the process starts over again.

Invest in a water cooler for your home or workplace today