Gas cooling includes absorption chillers (single-stage steam, two-stage steam, and direct-fired), natural gas engine-driven chillers, and steam turbine-driven chillers. Typical natural gas engine-driven chiller sizes range from 5 up to 5,000 tons. Steam turbine-driven chiller sizes range from 400 to 5,000 tons.
Stewart says that gas cooling has been applied in hospitals, universities, government facilities, and large central cooling plants, as well as some smaller operations. In areas where electric distribution may be a problem, such as the difficulties in California, gas cooling can offer a more reliable option.