Which is not part of the chiller's refrigeration loop?

In a chiller system, the refrigeration loop typically consists of components that work together to transfer heat and maintain desired temperatures. The main parts of this loop are the condenser, evaporator, and compressor.

The condenser is responsible for dissipating heat from the refrigerant to the external environment, usually transforming the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid. The evaporator, on the other hand, absorbs heat from the environment or the liquid to be cooled, allowing the refrigerant to change from a liquid to a gas. The compressor plays a crucial role by pressurizing the refrigerant gas and regulating its flow through the loop, facilitating the heat exchange process.

The cooling tower, however, is not part of the refrigeration loop itself. Instead, it serves as a heat rejection device that removes excess heat from the condenser water before it is recirculated back to the condenser. This separation indicates that the cooling tower functions externally to the chiller's primary refrigeration cycle, making it the correct answer as the component not part of the refrigeration loop.