Glycol Chilling Systems Simplified
Dec. 02, 2024
Glycol Chilling Systems Simplified
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Glycol and Your Chilling System Explained
Glycol is a class of organic compounds that belong to the alcohol family. When mixed with water and pumped through the pipes of a chilling system, glycol serves to slow the rate of freezing. It helps maintain temperature consistency in the application. Some glycol products also work to inhibit corrosion and bacterial growth within the pipes of the chilling system.The Two Types of Glycol Compared
Glycol comes in two varieties that should never be mixed together: ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both types offer the same relative level of freeze protection. Both also help to guard against corrosion. Some grades of both types of glycol also help to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria within the chiller.Ethylene Glycol
Ethylene glycol is a moderately toxic chemical that has a sweet taste and can be harmful if swallowed. For this reason, it should not be used in potable water orPropylene Glycol
Propylene glycol has a lower level of toxicity and is considered to be a food grade antifreeze. This type of glycol is safer to handle than ethylene and can be more easily disposed of.Mixing Water with Glycol in Your Industrial Refrigeration System
Although you should never mix glycol types there is something that should always be added: water. As mentioned, glycol must be mixed with water to function properly. The type and amount of water to use are key factors to consider.Type of Water to Use
Each glycol chiller comes with its own set of manufacturer recommendations for the best type of water to use for that system. Although city water may be acceptable initially, it is almost never recommended that de-ionized water be maintained for the long term as it could have adverse affects on certain metals in the chiller. Sometimes manufactures require the chiller to use distilled or reverse-osmosis water. The key is to check with the manufacturer for the particular needs of your refrigeration system. Read more aboutRatio of Water to Glycol to Use
Calculating the proper ratio of glycol to water in your chilling system depends on the coldest temperature that the glycol solution will reach during operation. If a chilling system is used indoors where there is no chance of freezing, the amount of glycol needed would be significantly less than required by a glycol chiller used outdoors where temperatures are prone to drop below freezing. Also, if an application requires a very low temperature to operate it should use a glycol mixture similar to that of an outdoor system. In a chilling system, this temperature is normally the saturated suction temperature in the evaporator, and normally this temperature is 10°F below the chiller set point temperature. Using the proper ratio of glycol and water in your chilling system is very important. Adding too much to your chiller system will cause it to become inefficient. However, not enough glycol could cause the system to freeze up, potentially bursting pipes or even rupturing the chiller evaporator.Learn More About Glycol Chilling Systems
To learn more about how a glycol chiller works or to find out if this system is right for your application,Berg manufactures glycol chilling systems for a wide variety of industries ranging from food and beverage processing to. Yet, what makes these systems unique and how they operate remains a mystery to many of our current and potential clients. Glycol chillers are industrial refrigeration systems that use a type of antifreeze called glycol, mixed with water, to lower the freezing point in the application of the chilling system. Here are the top three things you should know about glycol chillers.Glycol is a class of organic compounds that belong to the alcohol family. When mixed with water and pumped through the pipes of a chilling system, glycol serves to slow the rate of freezing. It helps maintain temperature consistency in the application. Some glycol products also work to inhibit corrosion and bacterial growth within the pipes of the chilling system.Glycol comes in two varieties that should never be mixed together: ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both types offer the same relative level of freeze protection. Both also help to guard against corrosion. Some grades of both types of glycol also help to prevent the growth of algae and bacteria within the chiller.Ethylene glycol is a moderately toxic chemical that has a sweet taste and can be harmful if swallowed. For this reason, it should not be used in potable water ors when leakage is a possibility. Ethylene glycol has more widespread use due to its lower purchase price. Industrial applications likeandrequiring large volumes of the coolant find this to be the most economical choice of glycol.Propylene glycol has a lower level of toxicity and is considered to be a food grade antifreeze. This type of glycol is safer to handle than ethylene and can be more easily disposed of. Propylene glycol is commonly used inor in industrial refrigeration systems where people may come into contact with fluid. Propylene glycol can also become more viscous than ethylene, even slightly affecting the heat exchange rate when used at very low temperatures. It is important to note that you should never mix different types or brand names of glycol, as this leads to the product congealing and the clogging of filters in the refrigeration system potentially causing problems with heat transfer and fluid flow.Although you should never mix glycol types there is something that should always be added: water. As mentioned, glycol must be mixed with water to function properly. The type and amount of water to use are key factors to consider.Each glycol chiller comes with its own set of manufacturer recommendations for the best type of water to use for that system. Although city water may be acceptable initially, it is almost never recommended that de-ionized water be maintained for the long term as it could have adverse affects on certain metals in the chiller. Sometimes manufactures require the chiller to use distilled or reverse-osmosis water. The key is to check with the manufacturer for the particular needs of your refrigeration system. Read more about how process water can affect a chilling systems performance Calculating the proper ratio of glycol to water in your chilling system depends on the coldest temperature that the glycol solution will reach during operation. If a chilling system is used indoors where there is no chance of freezing, the amount of glycol needed would be significantly less than required by a glycol chiller used outdoors where temperatures are prone to drop below freezing. Also, if an application requires a very low temperature to operate it should use a glycol mixture similar to that of an outdoor system. In a chilling system, this temperature is normally the saturated suction temperature in the evaporator, and normally this temperature is 10°F below the chiller set point temperature. Using the proper ratio of glycol and water in your chilling system is very important. Adding too much to your chiller system will cause it to become inefficient. However, not enough glycol could cause the system to freeze up, potentially bursting pipes or even rupturing the chiller evaporator.To learn more about how a glycol chiller works or to find out if this system is right for your application,
Everything You Want to Know About Glycol Chillers
What is a glycol chiller? What are the advantages? Is it safe for food and beverages? What about energy efficiency? If youre 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, lets 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 mixtures 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.
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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 glycols 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, well summarize ten quick glycol chiller facts to wrap up this post on everything you want to know about these high-performance industrial cooling systems.
10 Quick facts about glycol chillers
- A glycol chiller uses a glycol-water mixture as a coolant
- Glycol is a class of organic compounds that belong to the alcohol family
- The most common glycol-water ratio is 60/40 but will depend on your application requirements
- Ethylene and propylene are the two types of glycol; ethylene glycol is toxic, and propylene glycol is non-toxic
- A glycol chiller is ideal for many industries, including brewing, dairy, and food processing
- The glycol-water coolant helps resists corrosion, algae, and bacteria in the chillers components
- Tight temperature control is one of the main advantages of glycol chillers
- A glycol chiller can enhance the taste and quality of food and beverages
- The antifreeze properties of a glycol chiller make it ideal for low-temperature applications
- Glycol chillers come with many high-efficiency options, including a glycol economizer
If youre interested in learning whether a glycol chiller is right for your application, reach out to our industrial chiller experts for personalized advice for your industry and specifications. With robust engineered solutions, excellent after-the-sale support, and a 99.4% uptime rate, we are a trusted source for high-performance process chillers for any industrial cooling need.
For more information, please visit Glycol Water Chiller Price.
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