The Role of Containerised Water Chillers in Hazardous Environments

Ensuring Reliable and Safe Cooling in High-Risk Industries

Industries such as oil & gas, chemical processing, mining, and energy production operate in some of the harshest and most hazardous environments. From extreme temperatures to explosive atmospheres, these sectors require robust, reliable, and safe cooling solutions to maintain operations and prevent equipment failure.

Containerised water chillers with hazardous area (haz area) dry coolers provide self-contained, high-performance, and compliant cooling solutions designed to operate in potentially explosive or flammable environments. For operations in Australia and New Zealand, compliance with IECEx certification is essential, ensuring these systems meet the highest safety standards.

Why Cooling is Critical in Hazardous Environments

Hazardous environments—classified as Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas—require specialised equipment that can operate safely under strict explosive atmosphere regulations. In Australia and New Zealand, the IECEx (International Electrotechnical Commission Explosive Atmospheres) certification is the key standard governing hazardous area equipment. While ATEX certification is a European standard, it may be accepted in some cases if it aligns with IECEx requirements.

Effective cooling in these environments is crucial to:

• Prevent equipment overheating and potential breakdowns
• Mitigate fire and explosion risks in volatile environments
• Maintain operational efficiency and compliance with industry regulations
• Extend the lifespan of critical machinery and production systems

The Advantages of Containerised Water Chillers

Containerised water chillers are purpose-built, modular cooling solutions designed to meet the needs of industries operating in hazardous zones. These systems offer several benefits:

Fully Self-Contained & Mobile

Unlike traditional fixed cooling systems, containerised chillers come as pre-engineered, fully enclosed units, allowing for quick deployment, relocation, and integration into existing infrastructure.

Engineered for Hazardous Areas

Equipped with hazardous area-rated dry coolers, these systems are designed to function safely in IECEx-compliant environments. They are built to withstand explosive atmospheres and flammable conditions, ensuring compliance with Australian and New Zealand safety regulations.

Energy-Efficient & Environmentally Friendly

Hazardous area dry coolers help reduce water consumption by leveraging air-to-liquid heat exchange technology, eliminating the need for evaporative cooling in water-scarce environments. This results in:

• Lower operational costs
• Reduced environmental impact
• Improved energy efficiency

Scalable & Customisable

Each industry has unique cooling requirements. Containerised chillers can be custom-designed with:

• IECEx-certified explosion-proof components
• Redundant cooling systems for critical operations
• Remote monitoring and automation for improved control

Applications of Containerised Water Chillers in Hazardous Environments

• Oil & Gas: Maintains cooling in refineries, offshore platforms, and LNG processing plants, ensuring compliance with IECEx safety regulations.
• Chemical & Petrochemical: Provides precise temperature control for chemical reactions, preventing overheating and improving process stability.
• Mining & Metallurgy: Supports operations in remote or underground mines, where high heat loads require efficient cooling.
• Power Generation: Essential for cooling turbines, generators, and energy storage systems in thermal and nuclear power plants.

Heuch Cooling Solutions: Your Partner for Industrial Cooling in Hazardous Areas

With decades of expertise in custom-engineered cooling solutions, Heuch Cooling Solutions delivers IECEx-compliant containerised chillers designed for uncompromising performance, safety, and compliance in Australian and New Zealand hazardous environments. Our experienced engineering team can help you design, manufacture, and deploy a tailored cooling system for your specific industrial application.

Contact us today to speak with our experts and explore the right cooling solution for your operation.

Call us on 1300 001 952 or email us at cool@heuch.com.au

Looking for more information? Click here to view our range or view this case study Containerised Drive Chiller for Västmanand, Sweden