AquaForce 23XW Water-Cooled Screw Chiller
Next-generation 75–200 ton water-cooled screw chiller on ultra-low GWP R-1234ze(E) or R-515B, with Greenspeed VFD and 70% per-minute ramp rate for dynamic load matching.
The AquaForce 23XW is Carrier's current-generation water-cooled screw chiller, designed from the outset around ultra-low GWP refrigerants — R-1234ze(E) (GWP <1) or R-515B — rather than retrofitting lower-GWP options into a legacy platform. That clean-sheet refrigerant strategy gives procurement teams confidence against future F-gas and HFC phase-down regulations, which are tightening progressively in the EU, Gulf Cooperation Council member states, and other markets that adopted Kigali Amendment commitments.
The dual-rotor positive-displacement screw compressor pairs with a Greenspeed Intelligence variable-frequency drive that enables a 70% capacity change per minute — a ramp rate that tracks rapid load swings without the delay and hunting associated with conventional unloading mechanisms. A liquid motor cooling circuit extends the operating range without adding complexity, while a refrigerant economizer circuit improves efficiency at full load. The flooded shell-and-tube heat exchangers use internally and externally enhanced copper tubing to maximise heat transfer per unit of heat-exchanger volume.
At 75–200 tons, the 23XW is sized for mid-scale airport support buildings, operational control centres, aviation training facilities, and executive terminal (FBO) buildings — load profiles that outgrow fan-coil or packaged DX systems but do not justify a large centrifugal frame. The SmartVu touchscreen with multilingual display capability covers Arabic out-of-the-box, relevant for regional technical staff. A companion 23XQ heat-pump variant using identical compressor technology delivers up to 140°F (60°C) heating for facilities requiring simultaneous heating and cooling.
Technical specifications.
| Cooling Capacity | 75–200 tons (264–703 kW) |
| Refrigerant Options | R-515B, R-1234ze(E) (GWP <1, PUREtec) |
| Compressor Type | Dual-rotor positive-displacement screw with Greenspeed VFD |
| Load Ramp Rate | 70% capacity change per minute |
| Heat Exchangers | Flooded shell-and-tube, enhanced copper tubing, 150 or 300 PSIG rated |
| Controls | SmartVu touchscreen, multilingual display, BluEdge monitoring |
| Heat Pump Variant | 23XQ, max outlet 140°F (60°C) |
| Certifications | AHRI 550/590 & 551/591 (cooling and heating) |
Use cases.
- ›Mid-scale airport operational buildings — control centres, crew facilities, airline lounges, FBO terminals
- ›Aviation training academies and maintenance training centres requiring dependable year-round comfort cooling
- ›Projects requiring regulatory-future-proofed ultra-low GWP refrigerant selection to address F-gas phase-down schedules
- ›Buildings with dynamic load profiles where high VFD ramp rate avoids temperature overshoot during rapid occupancy changes
- ›Integrated airport-city hospitality and retail buildings in the 75–200 ton load range
- ›Dual-purpose heating and cooling projects using the companion 23XQ heat pump variant