What are the benefits of glycol chillers?

GLYCOL CHILLER VS. WATER CHILLER &#; WHY USE GLYCOL?

The global demand for industrial process cooling remains at a steady high. Reliability and minimal downtime are key to consistent and profitable industrial and commercial processes.

With competitive price and timely delivery, Huateng sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

This article will consider the best methods to attain the optimal temperatures required to operate production processes in the metal finishing, medical, brewing, and agricultural industries.

How Does A Chiller Function?

So, how does a chiller work? The process works in a loop, but we will start where the cooling medium interfaces with your process equipment.

The system&#;s coolant absorbs thermal energy from your process, typically causing a phase change into a gas. The gaseous refrigerant is then circulated to a condenser which expels the heat through evaporative condensation or a cooling tower. This heat exchange condenses the cooling medium back into a cooler liquid that is sent back to process heating source to begin the cycle again.

What Type of Coolants Are Used in Chillers?

The type of coolant utilized in a chiller is based on process needs and cost considerations. The most popular coolants used are either water or a mixture of water and another substance with suitable heat conduction properties &#; like glycol compounds.

Water

The use of water as chiller fluid is an economical one as in most cases the water can be easily sourced with minimal costs. Alternatively, purified (deionized water, reverse osmosis) water can be used in a water-based chiller to achieve a higher cooling efficiency.

Glycol

Glycol based coolants are either composed of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. While these two variants have similar physical properties, they should never be mixed. The major advantages which glycol coolants confer are an improved resistance to corrosion as well as antifreeze properties.

Why Is Glycol Used for Cooling

Using a glycol-water mix as a chiller coolant has various benefits over the use of plain water as a chiller fluid. These advantages are due to its unique physical properties which include a lower freezing point than water.

Water vs. Glycol Heat Transfer

For water free of impurities, the freezing point is 32°F which is much higher compared to pure ethylene glycol which changes to its solid-state at 8.9°F. When a glycol-water mixture is altered, the freezing point of the coolant also changes. To cite an example, 10% ethylene glycol will freeze at 25.9°F while a 60% glycol solution will freeze at -63°F.

From the above analysis, it&#;s clear that glycol has refrigerant properties that are more suited for use in chillers expected to function in low-temperature environments. In these thermal conditions, a water coolant will freeze and obstruct chiller circulation while diminishing overall efficiency.

By contrast, utilizing a glycol-based chiller will take advantage of its antifreeze properties ensuring the coolant remains in a desirable fluid state.

Glycol Chiller vs. Water Chiller

Both glycol and water chillers can be used to satisfactorily dissipate the heat being generated by your production process. The fundamental difference between both chiller types lies in variations in their freezing points as well as their heat conduction capacities.

Pure glycol or a mix of glycol and water has a much lower freezing point than that of pure water. By implication, glycol-based chillers are better suited to low-temp environments. Conversely, water has a better ability to retain and conduct heat from an associated process than a glycol mixture can. As a result, the efficiency of heat transfer for a water chiller will be higher than that of a glycol chiller.

Overall, operators need to consider the ambient temperatures for the siting environment before choosing a chiller type.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Propylene Glycol Chiller System.

How Does a Glycol Chiller System Work?

A glycol chiller plant is composed of a refrigeration component and tubing containing a glycol-water mixture as coolant. Chilled fluid from the refrigeration unit is channeled through the piping associated with a thermal exchanger surrounding a heated process. After absorbing heat from the associated process, the warmed coolant is returned to the refrigeration unit for cooling after which the process is repeated.

Percentage Glycol in Chilled Water Systems

For many chiller types, ethylene glycol is mixed with water at a ratio of 60/40. This higher percentage of glycol boosts the mixture&#;s antifreeze properties significantly. This is useful in cases where rapid cooling is required. In these situations, a process can be cooled to very low temperatures without freezing the coolant within its piping.

How Does a Water Chiller System Work?

A conventional water chiller works on the principles of heat transmission between various mediums both fluid and solid. These cooling systems work either by heat absorption or vapor compression. The basic components of a water chiller system include a refrigeration unit and a piping system that circulated chilled coolant. 

See Cold Shot Chillers&#; Line of Performance Chillers

For the last thirty years, Cold Shot Chillers has been manufacturing premium industrial chillers. With an impressive line of water- and air-cooled chiller units, your industrial cooling needs are sure to be met.

What is a glycol chiller? What are the advantages? Is it safe for food and beverages? What about energy efficiency? If you&#;re considering a glycol chiller for your industrial process cooling needs, you may have many unanswered questions. This article will answer these and other frequently asked questions to help you make the best decision for your needs.

To start, let&#;s get down to basics with a brief definition of a glycol chiller.

What is a glycol chiller?

A glycol chiller is an industrial process chiller that uses a glycol-water mixture as a coolant. Glycol is a class of organic compounds that belong to the alcohol family that helps slow the rate of freezing. In most applications, the ratio of glycol to water is 60/40, the optimal combination to maximize the mixture&#;s antifreeze properties, particularly to achieve rapid cooling. However, a qualified industrial chiller expert can help you determine the ideal ratio of glycol to water for high-performance cooling in your application.

How does a glycol chiller work?

A glycol chiller funnels a glycol-water coolant mixture from the refrigeration unit through thermal heat exchanger piping, absorbing heat from your industrial process and warming the coolant. Next, the warmed coolant returns to the refrigeration unit to repeat the cooling process.

Head to our blog article on how process chillers work for more on the glycol chiller cooling process and the essential chiller components.

What is the difference between ethylene and propylene glycol?

A glycol chiller may use either ethylene or polyethylene glycol, depending on the application. Ethylene glycol and its derivatives contain mildly toxic properties, making it unsafe for food and beverage applications. On the other hand, propylene glycol is non-toxic, making it the safest &#; and only &#; glycol chiller coolant option for breweries, food processing, dairy, and other similar industries. Look for a United States Pharmacopeia (USP)-grade glycol to ensure it meets the highest standards of safety and quality for food applications.

What are the advantages of a glycol chiller?

A glycol chiller has several advantages over systems that use ice or purified water to cool your industrial processes, especially in food applications, including: 

• Consistent cooling temperatures protect frozen and refrigerated food from spoilage
• Higher quality food with better taste
• Accommodates the narrowest of temperature ranges as tight as +/- 1°
• The antifreeze properties of a glycol chiller provide more consistent and reliable performance

Is a glycol chiller suitable for low-temperature applications?

Yes. Unlike a potable water coolant, you can rely on a glycol chiller to perform exceptionally well in low-temperature environments, such as food processing facilities, aerospace applications, and ice rinks. Thanks to glycol&#;s antifreeze capabilities, the coolant achieves a lower freezing point than water to help keep your low-temp processes running strong.

Check out our blog post on the options for low-temp chillers to learn more these chillers.

Is a glycol chiller energy efficient?

Yes. Glycol chillers have many energy-efficient options, including a glycol economizer for &#;free cooling,&#; EC condenser fans, electronic expansion valves (EEVs), floating head pressure, and heat reclaim for hot water loop. Because we take environmental responsibility seriously, we use only EPA-approved refrigerants, and our city water bypass option operates without draining glycol. We also offer supplemental fluid coolers to reduce the energy consumption of some glycol chiller systems.

In the next section, we&#;ll summarize ten quick glycol chiller facts to wrap up this post on everything you want to know about these high-performance industrial cooling systems.

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10 Quick facts about glycol chillers 

1. A glycol chiller uses a glycol-water mixture as a coolant
2. Glycol is a class of organic compounds that belong to the alcohol family 
3. The most common glycol-water ratio is 60/40 but will depend on your application requirements
4. Ethylene and propylene are the two types of glycol; ethylene glycol is toxic, and propylene glycol is non-toxic
5. A glycol chiller is ideal for many industries, including brewing, dairy, and food processing
6. The glycol-water coolant helps resists corrosion, algae, and bacteria in the chillers&#; components
7. Tight temperature control is one of the main advantages of glycol chillers
8. A glycol chiller can enhance the taste and quality of food and beverages 
9. The antifreeze properties of a glycol chiller make it ideal for low-temperature applications
10. Glycol chillers come with many high-efficiency options, including a glycol economizer