Glycol coolers are used in indirect refrigeration systems in industrial and commercial application

In industrial and commercial applications, glycol coolers are employed in indirect refrigeration systems.

Glycol coolers are one of the most common indirect refrigeration devices in use today. Glycol refrigeration is employed in industrial and commercial applications since it is a non-toxic, ecologically acceptable chemical.

Indirect cooling systems are what they sound like.

If you're unfamiliar with refrigeration, you might be asking what indirect refrigeration is. To grasp this concept, you must first comprehend direct industrial refrigeration. Direct refrigeration involves transporting the refrigerant gas (fluorinated, CO2, or ammonia) directly to the cool room. In contrast, indirect glycol refrigeration occurs when the refrigerant gas does not flow directly to the cold room's heat exchanger. That is, glycol transports the cold to the chilly chamber. But first, the glycol must be cooled using a heat exchanger by any form of refrigerant (fluorinated, CO2, or NH3).

Why is glycol used to keep things cool?

To be more specific, a solution of distilled water and glycol is utilised to transmit cold rather than pure glycol. Depending on the glycol concentration, glycol water has a freezing point several degrees below 0°C. Water's freezing point drops to -3 °C at a concentration of 10%, for example. Yet, at a concentration of 30%, the freezing point of water is -14 °C. When the concentration is increased to 50%, the freezing point is -34 °C.

Without the glycol, the water would quickly freeze and become immobile in the cold chamber. Also, when the water inside the pipes freezes, they tend to rupture. Water circulates at temperatures several degrees below zero degrees Celsius in glycol chillers.

Glycol for cooling allows commercial and industrial refrigeration systems to use less refrigerant gas. This is because, as previously indicated, there is no need to deliver some form of refrigerant straight to the cold room. As a result, refrigerant costs are reduced, as is the environmental impact of their extensive use (mostly fluorinated refrigerants).

It is critical to notice that the glycol water used for cooling is distilled to prevent corrosion of the pipes and pump. Also, the glycol water solution is exceptionally stable, not degrading with use or over time.

Glycols, on the other hand, are classified into two types: ethylene glycol and mono propylene glycol. Both have antifreeze qualities that are extremely similar, however ethylene glycol is the more hazardous of the two. Mono-propylene glycol is thus most commonly utilised in the food, wine, beer, and pharmaceutical industries.

Glycol chiller types

Glycol chillers are made up of a cold generating unit and a glycol water circuit to keep the cold room cool. The type of refrigerant used to cool the glycol can be used to classify the cold-generating machine. In other words, focusing on this element allows us to categorise glycol refrigeration based on the refrigerant utilised. Fluorinated (R-134a, R-404A, R-410A, R-407C, etc.) ammonia (R-717), and CO2 glycol coolers would be used in this instance (R-744).

When the compressor technology of the cold generating unit is considered, the varieties of glycol chillers might be screw, rotary, or piston. Nevertheless, in this essay, we will simply look at how heat transfer occurs in a chilly space. As a result, glycol coolers can be static or pushed air.

Static glycol coolers for cold room glycol cooling

In many circumstances, portable coolers are the best choice when you need to refrigerate food while maintaining its humidity. These heat exchangers are made of copper tubes and aluminium radiator fins. The cold glycol circulates inside the copper tubes, and heat transmission is accomplished through natural convection of the cold room's air.

Only high and medium-temperature applications are covered by glycol static coolers. These systems have electric defrost heaters and auxiliary trays to force water out of the cold room.

Glycol Coolers for Cold Rooms

Heat transmission is faster and more efficient when chilly room air is driven through the heat exchanger. Forced air coolers are metal constructions with a heat exchanger and one or more forced draught fans within. In high, medium, low, and extremely low temperatures, this technology is frequently employed in industrial and commercial refrigeration.

The heat exchanger is comprised of copper tubes with aluminium fins and has defrosting electric heaters built in. The distribution of the exhaust cold air might be simple or double, depending on the design. In the cold room, the latter delivers more homogeneous chilling.

Forced air coolers are typically installed on the cold room's ceiling. The fans, on the other hand, are helical in design and powered by single-phase or three-phase electricity. The electric motor's bearings utilise special low-temperature oil to ensure that it does not remain at extremely low temperatures.

We have extensive experience designing, manufacturing, and installing industrial and commercial refrigeration systems.

In addition, we provide forced-air glycol cubicle chillers for commercial applications at high, medium, and low temperatures.

We also have glycol coolers with double air distribution that are ceiling-mounted. We have high, medium, low, and very low temperature solutions for this application.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.