A water chiller is a special refrigerator that’s used to cool large machines or equipment. As these devices heat up, a water chiller takes the heat exchange and transfers that energy into a refrigerant in a closed loop system. The wasted heat can then be transferred into the atmosphere from a special waste outlet.
Water chillers have many uses in the commercial sector. They’re more commonly found in medical, metal finishing, plastics processing, and food processing industries. Getting the right water chiller is so important! Here’s what you need to know to get it right.
1. Size It Right
Getting the right size chiller is essential for a smooth and efficient operation. You need the chiller to do its job without overheating or quickly wearing out the motor. Additionally, you don’t want it to raise your utility bills so you can keep your overhead low.
Cold Shot Chillers recommends using a formula to help you figure out the size. It involves the temperature differential, BTU/hr, and tons of cooling capacity. You can find that simple formula here.
2. Know Your Heat Load
You’ll need to know the heat load in order to calculate the sizing for your water chiller. This number will be among the most important things to identify before making your purchase because it will ensure that you get the proper coolant to cover it.
You should be able to find information about the heat load of a product in the manual or on an information decal on the machinery. If there’s nothing to tell you the heat load, you’ll have to use a physics calculation: Heat Load = Flow Rate x Fluid Density x Fluid Specific Heat x Constant x deltaT.
3. Understand the Environment
The heat load of the machinery is the most crucial piece you’ll need, but don’t forget that the environment where the machinery operates also plays a factor.
For example, if you’re using a chiller to cool machinery in a metal processing plant in Phoenix, AZ where temperatures often climb above 100 degrees, your chiller will need a higher capacity to compensate for the additional heat.
4. Find a Good Supplier
The company that manufactures, sells, and/or services your chillers is also very important. Ideally, you’ll find a company that carries both standard models and the option to build a customized unit.
The company should come highly recommended and model excellent customer service in everything they do. You should trust them to offer only the highest standard of care.
5. Stay in Budget
Recognize that chillers will be an expensive piece of equipment. That being said, you don’t always have to purchase the most expensive brand to get the best result. Set your budget realistically, but don’t be afraid to shop around and consider all your options before settling on the perfect chiller for your needs.
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