Glycol is an effective water coolant commonly used in industry today. So the machine Glycol water cooling What is it? All information about this device will be Tan Long summarized and sent to you in the article below.
Working principle of Glycol water cooling machine
Glycol water chillers are a common medium in industrial cooling systems. The operating principle of the machine can be understood as follows: Glycol water chillers operate based on the principle of heat exchange. Glycol, a common refrigerant, is used to transfer heat from water or aqueous solutions to the cooling system.
A glycol-based water chiller has two main parts: the evaporator and the condenser. In the evaporator, the glycol absorbs heat from the water or aqueous solution, causing the water or aqueous solution to become colder. The hot glycol then flows out of the evaporator and into the condenser. There, the glycol exchanges heat with the outside environment (usually air or water) to dissipate heat and convert back to a cold state to continue the cycle.
Outstanding features of Glycol water cooling
Glycol machine is a type of water chiller with outstanding features that make it widely used in industry such as:
- Large capacity: Glycol machines have capacities ranging from 5 tons to thousands of tons. This allows it to meet the cooling needs of large projects, including factories, shopping malls, hospitals and sports training centers. With large capacities, glycol machines are capable of cooling large amounts of water and maintaining stable temperatures in large systems.
- Lightweight, compact design: The glycol machine is designed with a light and compact cold water piping system, which helps save installation space. This is very important in construction projects such as office buildings, high-rise buildings, where there is not much space to install large equipment.
- Stable operation: The glycol machine has a very stable operating system, ensuring continuous and efficient cooling. This ensures that the cooling system is not interrupted and meets the needs of continuous use for a long time.
- Save energy and costs: Glycol chillers are designed to save energy and reduce operating costs. The system operates efficiently and uses advanced technology to reduce energy consumption compared to other chillers. This brings both environmental and financial benefits to the user.
These advantages help Glycol water chillers become a reasonable choice for industries with large water cooling needs.
Why is Glycol used for cooling?
Glycols, including propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, are widely used as coolants in industrial applications for the following reasons:
- Anti-freeze: Glycol has a lower freezing point than water, which makes it very effective in preventing freezing and damage to cooling systems, even at sub-zero temperatures. When water freezes, it can cause pressure surges and damage to cooling pipes and equipment. Glycol helps protect the system by reducing the risk of freezing and ensuring continuous operation.
- Heat transfer efficiency: Glycol has excellent heat transfer properties, allowing it to efficiently absorb and transfer heat from the process or equipment being cooled. This helps the cooling system operate efficiently, ensuring that heat is removed and hot spots are kept to a minimum.
- Corrosion resistance: Glycol has anti-corrosion properties that help protect cooling system components from rust and deterioration. Water in the cooling medium can damage metal components and cause corrosion. Glycol forms a protective anti-corrosion layer on metal surfaces, prolonging the life of the system and maintaining better performance.
- Inhibits bacterial growth: Glycol has antimicrobial properties, which help inhibit the growth of bacteria and algae in cooling systems. Bacteria and algae can cause blockages and reduce the performance of cooling systems. Glycol helps maintain a clean and hygienic environment, reducing the risk of bacteria and algae growth and maintaining maximum operating performance.
These properties make glycol the ideal choice for reliable and efficient cooling systems.
How does a Glycol water chiller system work?
Glycol systems, or Glycol water chillers, work by circulating a mixture of glycol and water through a closed loop system. Specifically as follows:
- The glycol and water mixture is stored in a reservoir, usually located in the refrigeration unit. This reservoir holds and supplies the glycol-water mixture for circulation.
- A pump is used to circulate the glycol-water mixture through the system. The pump creates a continuous flow, pushing the mixture through the system components.
- The glycol mixture passes through a heat exchanger, where it absorbs heat from the equipment or process that needs to be cooled. The heat exchanger can be a separate part of the system or integrated into the equipment that needs to be cooled, such as a compressor, chiller, or heat pipe.
- The hot glycol mixture from the heat exchanger is fed into the refrigeration section of the system. Here, heat is released and absorbed through heat exchange with the refrigeration system. This process makes the glycol mixture colder.
- The cold glycol mixture is returned to the process or equipment that needs to be cooled. The mixture repeats the cycle, continuing to circulate through the system to maintain the desired temperature. The pump pushes the glycol-water mixture from the reservoir through the system components, through the heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir, completing the circulation process.
In short, Glycol Chilled Water systems work by circulating a mixture of glycol and water through a closed loop system, using pumps and heat exchangers to provide cooling and heat transfer. This process helps maintain the desired temperature in the processes and equipment that need to be cooled.
Water to Glycol Ratio to Use
The water to glycol ratio in a glycol system depends on the specific application and technical requirements. However, common and widely used ratios are 40% glycol and 60% water or 50% glycol and 50% water.
- 40% glycol to 60% water ratio: Commonly used in industrial cooling applications to ensure effective anti-freeze and anti-corrosion. This is a common ratio for industrial cooling systems, such as process cooling, industrial refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems.
- 50% glycol to 50% water ratio: Typically used in applications that require stronger anti-freeze, such as in high-pressure compressor cooling systems or in very low temperature environments. This helps ensure stability and safety of the cooling system under extreme conditions.
However, in some special applications the glycol ratio may be changed. For example, in extremely low temperature applications, such as medical refrigeration or in condensing liquid refrigeration systems, the glycol ratio may be higher than 50% to ensure that the coolant does not freeze.
To determine the correct glycol-to-water ratio for your particular application, consult the manufacturer's technical literature or seek advice from a specialist in the field.
| Glycol | Water | Coldest temperature |
| 16% | 84% | 0℃ |
| 24% | 76% | -5 ℃ |
| 32% | 68% | -10 ℃ |
| 40% | 60% | -15 ℃ |
| 45% | 55% | -20 ℃ |
| 50% | 50% | -25 ℃ |
| 55% | 45% | -30 ℃ |
What can a Glycol Water Chiller be used for?
Glycol chillers can be used in a variety of applications, including:
Brewery
Glycol chillers are used to cool the beer production process. Glycol systems help regulate and maintain the temperature in fermentation tanks, piping systems, and other equipment used in the beer production process. This helps ensure that the fermentation process is stable and achieves the desired quality.
Winery
Glycol chillers are also used in the winemaking process, similar to those used in breweries. They help regulate and maintain temperatures in tanks and other equipment to ensure that fermentation and aging takes place under ideal conditions.
Ice rink
Glycol water chillers are used to cool ice rink surfaces in skating facilities. The glycol system creates a flow of glycol-water mixture through a network of pipes under the ice rink surface, creating a thin layer of cold ice. This helps keep the ice rink in an icy state and enhances the skating experience for users.
Dairy products
Glycol water chillers can also be used in the production of dairy products, such as ice cream, frozen milk and other chilled products. Glycol systems help cool and maintain temperatures in equipment and production processes, ensuring product quality and safety.
How to choose the right capacity of a Glycol chiller?
To choose the right capacity of a Glycol water chiller, you need to consider the following factors:
Air cooled or water cooled
Air-cooled condensers use fans to create airflow over the refrigerant coils, do not require a cooling tower, and are relatively easy to install. However, air-cooled condensers operate efficiently at temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F) or below.
Water-cooled chillers work similarly to air-cooled chillers, but to complete the heat transfer, it needs to go through two steps. First, the heat is condensed into water, then the condensed water will be pumped to the cooling tower, and then released into the atmosphere. With this machine, the efficiency coefficient will be higher, the electricity cost will be lower than air-cooled chillers. In addition, the machine's life as well as its operation and performance are also more stable.
You need to decide which cooling method you want to use. The chiller can be air cooled or water cooled. This cooling method will affect the capacity and performance of the Glycol chiller.
Cooling capacity
You need to calculate the cooling capacity required based on the size and requirements of the system you want to cool. This is usually determined by calculating the amount of heat that needs to be removed from the system or process that needs to be cooled. Cooling capacity is measured in units of energy (kW or BTU/hr).
Is an integrated tank necessary?
In a chiller system, a tank can be installed to buffer the heat load of the machine. However, when choosing between an internal or external tank, there are factors to consider. The built-in tank on the chiller is easy to install and use through a water pipe connection.
However, the capacity of the built-in tank is limited and not suitable for applications with larger chilled water needs. External tanks can be customized to suit the capacity and ensure to keep larger heating loads and store more chilled water. However, the installation of external tanks can be more complicated.
Water flow
If you are using a Glycol water chiller, you need to consider the available water flow to supply the chiller. The inlet water flow and pressure need to meet the chiller's requirements to ensure efficient operation. So choose a pump with a suitable flow rate according to your needs.
Tan Long - Genuine supplier of Glycol water cooling machines
Tan Long is a professional unit providing complete solutions for industrial refrigeration and electromechanical systems. With many years of experience in the market, we have helped millions of customers successfully set up professional refrigeration systems.
For customers who need to install genuine water-cooled glycol machines, do not hesitate to contact Tan Long. We have leading experts in the industry who can advise, support and perform complete installation so that your system operates stably and with the best quality.
In addition, Tan Long also has good incentive programs for customers, with competitive prices. The Glycol water cooling machine products distributed by Tan Long on the market are guaranteed to be genuine, high quality, accompanied by extremely good after-sales service, warranty and maintenance. For more detailed information about products, services and to receive a quote, please do not hesitate to contact us via hotline (+84) 933357058 for fastest support.
See also: Water Chiller
