Important benefits, such as enhanced pressure control and pump energy savings, may be derived from utilising a variable-volume, hydraulically decoupled pumping system rather than a direct-pumping system for chilled-water distribution. However, converting large, direct-pumped distribution systems to decoupled systems is not always practical due to excessive capital cost requirements and the design of the existing equipment. Presents one approach to dealing with these factors, where it was not only beneficial but essential to decouple certain additional cooling loads that were atypical of existing loads served by a large district cooling system. Legislation and environmental factors regarding chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochlorofluocarbon refrigerants are major considerations in the design, management, and maintenance of district cooling systems. Reviews chiller selection and refrigerant management for district cooling system plants.KEYWORDS: refrigerants, district cooling, energy conservation, economics, designing, management, industrial, equipment, selecting, distribution, chillers, replacing, ammonia, absorption refrigeration, cooling, pharmaceuticals industry.