Certificate in Chiller Operation & Maintenance

The Certificate in Chiller Operation & Maintenance is designed to provide learners with practical knowledge and technical skills required for the safe and efficient operation, monitoring, inspection, servicing, troubleshooting, and maintenance of commercial and industrial chiller systems. The program covers fundamental refrigeration principles, chiller components, operating procedures, performance monitoring, preventive maintenance, fault diagnosis, water systems, controls, and energy-efficiency practices.

Learners will develop an understanding of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, including compressors, evaporators, condensers, expansion devices, chilled-water circuits, condenser-water circuits, pumps, cooling towers, sensors, controls, and safety devices. The course focuses on practical operation, including system start-up and shutdown, operating parameter monitoring, temperature and pressure checks, water-flow verification, equipment inspection, and performance assessment.

The program also introduces preventive and predictive maintenance concepts, refrigerant and oil-system awareness, tube and coil maintenance, water treatment, electrical and control-system checks, vibration and noise monitoring, troubleshooting of common faults, chiller efficiency, documentation, and emergency response. Emphasis is placed on safe operation, systematic maintenance, reliable performance, and effective facility management practices.

Skills Covered

• Fundamentals of chiller systems

• Refrigeration cycle and cooling principles

• Chiller types and configurations

• Air-cooled chillers

• Water-cooled chillers

• Reciprocating, scroll, screw, and centrifugal compressor awareness

• Chiller refrigeration circuits

• Compressors and oil systems

• Evaporators and heat exchangers

• Condensers and condenser systems

• Expansion valves and metering devices

• Chilled-water circuits

• Condenser-water circuits

• Chilled-water pumps

• Condenser-water pumps

• Cooling towers

• Chilled-water and condenser-water flow

• Refrigerant types and basic properties

• Refrigerant pressure and temperature relationships

• Chiller operating parameters

• Temperature and pressure measurement

• Flow and differential-pressure monitoring

• Chiller control panels

• Sensors and transducers

• Safety controls and protection devices

• Building Management System integration

• Chiller start-up procedures

• Chiller shutdown procedures

• Operating sequence and control logic

• Daily chiller monitoring

• Equipment log sheets

• Chiller performance checks

• Cooling-load awareness

• Preventive maintenance planning

• Routine chiller inspection

• Compressor inspection and maintenance

• Evaporator maintenance

• Condenser maintenance

• Tube and coil cleaning

• Water-side maintenance

• Cooling-tower inspection and maintenance

• Pump inspection and maintenance

• Filter, strainer, and valve maintenance

• Electrical inspection and testing

• Motor and starter checks

• Control-system inspection

• Refrigerant leak awareness

• Refrigerant recovery and handling awareness

• Oil-level and lubrication checks

• Vibration and noise monitoring

• Water treatment and scaling awareness

• Corrosion and fouling prevention

• Chiller efficiency and energy management

• COP and performance-efficiency awareness

• Fault diagnosis and troubleshooting

• High- and low-pressure fault conditions

• Low-flow and poor-circulation conditions

• Freeze protection and temperature faults

• Compressor and motor faults

• Sensor and control faults

• Water leakage and condensate issues

• Emergency shutdown and response

• Maintenance documentation and reporting

• Contractor and specialist-service coordination

• Workplace and electrical safety

• Refrigerant and chemical safety

• Lockout/tagout awareness

• Personal protective equipment

• Environmental practices and refrigerant management

• Site housekeeping and maintenance quality control

Why Join This Program?

• Develop practical knowledge of commercial and industrial chiller systems.

• Understand the operating principles of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers.

• Learn how major chiller components work together within the refrigeration cycle.

• Develop skills in monitoring pressures, temperatures, flow rates, and operating conditions.

• Learn correct chiller start-up and shutdown procedures.

• Understand chilled-water and condenser-water circulation systems.

• Develop practical knowledge of cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, and associated equipment.

• Learn how to perform routine chiller inspections and preventive maintenance.

• Understand compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion-device maintenance requirements.

• Develop skills in identifying abnormal operating conditions.

• Learn systematic approaches to chiller troubleshooting and fault diagnosis.

• Understand the effects of fouling, scaling, corrosion, poor water flow, and incorrect operating conditions.

• Develop awareness of chiller energy efficiency and performance monitoring.

• Learn basic principles of chiller performance indicators and efficiency assessment.

• Understand control panels, sensors, safety devices, and BMS integration.

• Develop proper maintenance documentation and operational reporting practices.

• Learn safe handling of refrigerants, chemicals, electrical equipment, and mechanical components.

• Prepare for responsibilities in HVAC maintenance, facilities management, building operations, and central cooling plant operations.

Course Objective

The objective of the Certificate in Chiller Operation & Maintenance is to develop practical and technical competence in the safe operation, inspection, servicing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance management of chiller systems. The program aims to equip learners with the ability to understand chiller refrigeration and water circuits, operate and monitor chillers, assess key operating parameters, carry out routine inspection and preventive maintenance activities, identify common faults, support corrective maintenance, improve energy efficiency, maintain operational records, and follow appropriate safety and environmental procedures.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, learners will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental operating principles of chiller systems.

• Describe the refrigeration cycle as applied to chillers.

• Identify common types of air-cooled and water-cooled chillers.

• Identify major chiller components and explain their functions.

• Explain the operating principles of compressors, evaporators, condensers, and expansion devices.

• Identify chilled-water and condenser-water circuits.

• Explain the purpose and operation of chilled-water and condenser-water pumps.

• Describe the role of cooling towers in water-cooled chiller systems.

• Identify common refrigerants and understand their basic characteristics.

• Explain basic refrigerant pressure and temperature relationships.

• Identify chiller sensors, controls, safety devices, and protection systems.

• Understand basic chiller control logic and operating sequences.

• Explain the role of Building Management Systems in chiller monitoring and control.

• Safely carry out basic chiller start-up procedures.

• Safely carry out basic chiller shutdown procedures.

• Monitor chilled-water supply and return temperatures.

• Monitor condenser-water temperatures where applicable.

• Monitor refrigerant pressures and other operating parameters.

• Check basic water flow and differential-pressure conditions.

• Record chiller operating data using appropriate log sheets and checklists.

• Conduct routine visual inspections of chiller equipment.

• Inspect compressors, motors, piping, valves, and visible system components.

• Inspect evaporators and condensers for visible signs of fouling, leakage, or deterioration.

• Support cleaning and maintenance of condenser and evaporator heat-transfer surfaces.

• Understand tube and coil cleaning requirements.

• Inspect chilled-water and condenser-water pumps.

• Inspect cooling towers for cleanliness, water distribution, and visible defects.

• Inspect strainers, filters, valves, and associated water-system components.

• Conduct basic electrical and control-system checks under appropriate supervision.

• Inspect motor starters, contactors, electrical connections, and control panels.

• Check sensors and control devices for abnormal readings.

• Perform basic oil-level and lubrication checks where applicable.

• Recognize signs of refrigerant leakage and abnormal system operation.

• Understand basic refrigerant recovery, evacuation, and charging requirements.

• Identify unusual vibration, noise, overheating, and abnormal compressor conditions.

• Recognize high-pressure and low-pressure operating conditions.

• Identify low-flow, poor-circulation, and water-side performance problems.

• Understand freeze-protection requirements and related fault conditions.

• Diagnose basic compressor, pump, control, sensor, and water-system faults.

• Apply preventive maintenance procedures to chiller equipment.

• Develop basic chiller inspection and maintenance schedules.

• Understand the effects of scaling, fouling, corrosion, and poor water quality on chiller performance.

• Explain basic water-treatment requirements for chilled-water and condenser-water systems.

• Monitor chiller performance and identify conditions that may reduce efficiency.

• Understand basic efficiency indicators such as cooling capacity, power consumption, and COP.

• Identify opportunities to improve chiller operating efficiency and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

• Respond appropriately to abnormal conditions and equipment emergencies.

• Apply safe equipment isolation and lockout/tagout principles.

• Handle refrigerants, oils, water-treatment chemicals, and maintenance materials safely.

• Apply appropriate electrical and mechanical safety procedures.

• Use suitable PPE during chiller operation and maintenance activities.

• Maintain accurate inspection, maintenance, and operational records.

• Prepare basic chiller service and performance reports.

• Coordinate chiller maintenance activities with HVAC technicians, facilities teams, contractors, and specialist service providers.

• Complete chiller operation and maintenance activities in accordance with approved operating procedures, manufacturer requirements, facility standards, safety requirements, and environmental practices.