YORK YK Centrifugal Chiller
High-capacity oil-bearing centrifugal chiller covering 250–3,000 TR with proven falling-film evaporator technology and optional low-GWP refrigerant.
The YORK YK is a workhorse water-cooled centrifugal chiller covering 250 to 3,000 TR (879–10,550 kW) — a range wide enough to anchor a standalone airport central plant or serve as one cell in a multi-machine district cooling scheme. It uses an oil-lubricated centrifugal compressor with a proprietary falling-film evaporator that reduces refrigerant charge by up to 40% versus conventional flooded designs while also raising evaporator efficiency. Standard refrigerant is HFC-134a; the latest YK-CP variant has been re-optimised for R-1234ze(E) (GWP <1), following the same approach YORK applied to the YZ platform.
The YK-CP at the top of the range achieves efficiencies as low as 0.15 kW/ton (COP 23.4) at real-world conditions — a significant step beyond typical centrifugal benchmarks. Standard YK models operate at real-world efficiencies down to approximately 0.20 kW/ton (COP 17.6). Variable-geometry diffuser control and optional variable-speed drive give broad part-load coverage for plants that operate through wide load swings during shoulder seasons or overnight.
For large airport infrastructure — terminal concourses, cargo cooling, remote stands — the YK's capacity ceiling of 3,000 TR means a single machine can handle a substantial zone without the piping and controls complexity of multiple smaller units. Dubai International Airport has historically operated YORK YK open-drive centrifugal chillers (including 11 kV direct-supply models), demonstrating the platform's suitability for major GCC aviation facilities.
Technical specifications.
| Cooling Capacity Range | 250–3,000 TR |
| Cooling Capacity Range (kW) | 879–10,550 kW |
| Real-World Efficiency (standard YK) | ~0.20 kW/ton |
| Real-World Efficiency (YK-CP, R-1234ze) | ~0.15 kW/ton |
| Peak COP (YK-CP) | 23.4 |
| Refrigerant (standard) | HFC-134a |
| Refrigerant (YK-CP variant) | R-1234ze(E) |
| Refrigerant Charge Reduction vs Flooded | Up to 40% |
| Evaporator Type | Falling-film, proprietary YORK design |
Use cases.
- ›Central chilled-water plants for major international airport terminals
- ›District cooling plant rooms where single-machine high capacity reduces installed count
- ›Large cargo and logistics facilities with continuous process cooling demand
- ›Hotel and convention complexes requiring 500+ TR from a single frame
- ›Phased capacity build-out — adding YK machines in parallel as terminal footprint grows
- ›GCC sites already standardised on YORK centrifugal infrastructure seeking YK-CP low-GWP upgrade path