Three Glycol Antifreeze Guidelines for Efficient Cooling System Operation
Posted on: 13 March 2017
Proper cooling is essential for numerous commercial operations, particularly in the food and beverage industry. This ensures that the food is stabilised, preventing spoilage and heat degradation. In addition, the cooling process will preserve the quality and taste of the beverages and food items. If you are thinking about investing in a cooling system, you should consider choosing and installing a glycol system.
This type of equipment is favourable because it uses a mixture of glycol and water in the chilling process. In simple terms, the glycol acts as antifreeze and limits the detriments of water such as corrosion, scale formation and microbial growth. Typically, glycol systems provide great cooling services. However, the exact quality will depend on your care practices, so use these guidelines for better performance and longevity.
Purchase the Right Antifreeze
There are two primary types of glycol antifreeze: ethylene and propylene glycol. The former is primarily used as the standard in industrial operations because it is relatively cheaper than the alternative. Unfortunately, it has moderate toxicity which is a limitation in some applications. If you are involved in the food industry or people in your business are likely to come in contact with the antifreeze, choose propylene glycol.
The propylene type is more expensive, but it has low toxicity. This means it is safer to handle and even to dispose. You should avoid mixing the two types of antifreeze in your cooling system because this can cause problems such as gelling and clogging of the filters. If you want to switch from one to the other, flush your cooling equipment and then, you can change over to the alternative.
Select a Suitable Water Source
The water is a critical factor in the operation of commercial chilling system. As mentioned, the glycol is normally mixed with water for the cooling process to be efficient. Unfortunately, numerous business owners choose the wrong source of water which promotes accelerated degradation of the equipment and energy inefficiencies. Ideally, you should use distilled water or water treated by reverse osmosis. This fluid is free of contaminants and has no additives. Do not use groundwater or municipal water because this often has additives which promote equipment corrosion.
Identify ideal Mix Percentages
You should check the manufacturer's recommendation on the right glycol to water ratio for your cooling system. Too much glycol will be expensive and even compromise the normal working of the machine while too little could result in freezing. If you are uncertain about the right choice, consult a glycol system maintenance technician.
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