How to optimise the performance of your chiller

Chillers play an essential role in maintaining temperature control and optimising the cooling process for a variety of machines across a range of industries. Without the right cooling system installed, heat does not get removed from temperature-sensitive equipment, which can result in the equipment getting damaged. In addition to this, a chiller contributes to saving water as it recirculates and re-uses a plant’s own water supply.

It is important to pick a chiller that is best suited for your facility and the needs of your industry. This article has been written as a guide to help you choose the right industrial chiller and what you need to think about.

Traditional versus industrial chillers

Before we get into the crux of the checks that need to be carried out when choosing an industrial chiller, it’s worth knowing the advantages that they hold over more traditional models.

• More precision – industrial chillers have the ability to maintain exact temperatures, which ensures the safety and quality of products. This is especially useful in the food & beverage industry
• Higher energy efficiency- energy consumption is further optimised, which means a lower carbon footprint and reduced operational costs
• Sustainability – risk of water contamination and overall consumption rate of water is a lot lower due to recirculation

Optimising Performance

Below are some of the important checks to carry out to make sure that your chiller is performing at its optimal capability.

Process Fluid Performance

The performance of the cooling fluid depends on its properties at a given temperature. It is important that you are familiar with the required temperature for processes to run smoothly and ensures you install a chiller that can accommodate the necessary requirements. Viscosity, density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity are all process fluid parameters that can affect the performance of your chiller. It is essential that you pick a chiller with components that are compatible with the process fluid. Furthermore, you’ll want to consider what size pump is required to circulate the process fluid through the chiller and maintain its flow rate.  

Cooling Fluid Temperature

There is a direct relationship between the temperature at which the chiller has been set and its total cooling capacity. Decreasing this temperature means putting more pressure on the refrigeration system, as it now has to operate at a lower temperature and absorb more heat from the cooling fluid, resulting in higher energy consumption. Since lowering the cooling fluid temperature will result in more energy consumption, it is important to decide on a set temperature that does not overly compromise the efficiency of your chiller.

Process Flow and Pressure Requirements

The performance of your chiller’s pump is dependent on whether an internal pressure relief has been added. Without an internal pressure relief, the pump will have to try and provide the necessary pressure, which can affect the quality and longevity of the pump: as liquid remains stagnant within the pump for longer, eventually evaporating and disrupting the pump’s cooling ability. If your chiller has inadequate flow, heat transfer will not be carried out efficiently, which means that the process facilitated by the chiller will not be able to take place safely. Thus, it is important to make sure that you install the right sized pump for your chiller to enable smooth functionality.

Chiller Operating Environment

The ambient temperature plays a big role in how well a chiller performs. The refrigeration system uses the ambient temperature gradient in order to carry out the condensation process. If the ambient temperature decreases, it can negatively affect the chiller’s performance and slow down the rate of heat transfer. The compressor, pump, and electronic components generate a lot of heat while they are working, and so it is important to maintain a high enough ambient temperature so that heat can be removed from these parts to allow your chiller to operate efficiently.

If you are interested in finding out more about how you can help your chiller  run smoothly, especially during the hotter months, or are thinking of upgrading your chiller altogether, get in touch today at enquiries@maziak.co.uk or call us at 01933 222000.