Courses Free Tools
HomeFind the Right CourseRefrigeration
Refrigeration

Refrigeration Systems and Chiller Plants: Fundamentals, Sizing, Design, and Troubleshooting

For engineers and facility managers responsible for refrigeration systems in food processing, pharmaceutical, industrial, nuclear, and commercial facilities. Build the applied knowledge to specify, operate, and diagnose these systems correctly.

Industrial Refrigeration Chiller Plants Food Processing Pharmaceutical System Diagnostics PEO PEAK
Practical refrigeration competence goes far beyond cycle thermodynamics. It includes component selection, system sizing, refrigerant handling, reading system measurements to diagnose problems, and optimizing chiller plant efficiency - knowledge that is rarely covered in engineering programs and must be built through structured training.

You are responsible for a refrigeration system at a food processing facility, a pharmaceutical plant, an industrial operation, or a nuclear site. Or you are an engineer assigned to specify or maintain a chiller plant. Or a refrigeration system is not performing as it should and you need to diagnose why.

What Refrigeration Work Actually Involves

Practical refrigeration competence includes:

The Applications That Require This Knowledge

Food Processing and Cold Chain

Refrigeration is the core technology in food processing. Engineers need to understand sizing for varying loads, efficient operation, and diagnosing problems that affect product quality and food safety.

Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

Pharmaceutical facilities require precise temperature and humidity control under strict regulatory requirements. Engineers must understand both technical operation and compliance context.

Industrial and Process Applications

Manufacturing, chemical processing, and resource extraction use refrigeration for process cooling. Industrial refrigeration configurations differ significantly from commercial chiller systems.

Nuclear and Government Facilities

Specialized cooling systems at facilities like Canadian Nuclear Laboratories require strict performance and safety understanding. Engineers need systematic knowledge of refrigeration design and diagnostics.

Commercial Chiller Plants

Large office buildings, hospitals, universities, and data centers use chiller plants as their primary cooling source. Mechanical engineers, facility managers, and commissioning agents all need this knowledge.

What the Course Covers

Who Faces This Challenge

Cameco Corporation GlaxoSmithKline Inc. IGPC Ethanol Inc. Suncor Energy Rombald Inc. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Natural Resources Canada
What Attendees Say

"Dr. Hamed's courses is a MUST FOR HVAC. TOP OF THE LINE."

Course Attendee

"Very intensive course, lots of examples. The instructor is very knowledgeable regarding the subject."

Course Attendee

"Excellent. Very knowledgeable. Did a great job. Best instructor I have seen."

Course Attendee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a refrigeration system and a chiller?

A chiller is a specific type of refrigeration system that produces chilled water for distribution to air handling units in a building. Industrial refrigeration systems cool process streams, products, or spaces directly, often using different refrigerants and system configurations than commercial chillers.

What refrigerants does the course cover?

The course covers the range of refrigerants in current use including HFCs, HFOs, and natural refrigerants, addressing properties, selection criteria, safety requirements, and the regulatory context around HFC phase-down under Canadian environmental regulations.

Is this course suitable for someone with no previous refrigeration experience?

Yes. The course starts from the fundamentals of the vapor-compression cycle and builds systematically through components, systems, and diagnostics. Engineers with a thermodynamics background will find the foundation familiar; the course adds the applied layer that bridges theory to real system work.

Does this course count toward PEO PEAK requirements?

Yes. The Refrigeration and Chiller Plants course provides 28 formal CPD hours, all qualifying as core engineering learning toward PEO PEAK requirements. It is PEO PEAK compliant. Read our PEO PEAK CPD Hours Guide →

Ready to build your refrigeration foundation?

Refrigeration and Chiller Plants
5 days · 28 CPD Hours · PEO PEAK compliant · $2,495 per attendee

View Full Course View All Courses

Group discount: 10% off per attendee for three or more participants from the same organization.

Dr. Mohamed Hamed

Written by the Course Instructor

Over 40 years of engineering practice and teaching. Dr. Mohamed S. Hamed's courses bridge the gap between what engineering programs teach and what the job requires - teaching HVAC, Refrigeration, and Thermo-Fluid Systems to engineers across Canada and abroad.

Ph.D. Mechanical EngineeringP.Eng. OntarioFECProfessor, McMaster University

Ready to close the knowledge gap?

Structured, expert-led training that advances your technical skills and your professional credentials.

View Recommended Course View All Courses