What is a fluid chiller?
A fluid chiller, or known as a thermos chiller, is a refrigeration system designed to accurately control the temperature of a liquid—typically water or a water-glycol mixture—by maintaining it at a specified temperature.
Understanding how a fluid chiller functions
A fluid chiller operates through a closed-loop system, where the cooling liquid continuously cycles from the chiller to the application or machine and back again. As the liquid flows through the system, it absorbs heat from the equipment. Upon returning to the chiller, the liquid’s temperature is reduced back to the target setpoint.
The chiller monitors the fluid temperature in real time, adjusting as needed to maintain stable conditions. This ensures consistent cooling performance, supporting optimal operation of your machinery or process.
Types fluid chiller
Fluid chillers exist in two main configurations:
- Closed-Tank Chillers: These systems operate under positive pressure, with all internal components sealed from the external environment.
- Open-Tank Chillers: In this configuration, the fluid tank is exposed to the atmosphere, allowing for unpressurised operation.
What chillers does SMC provide?
At SMC, we focus exclusively on open-tank chillers, which feature the upper tank design that remains open to ambient air. This type of open-tank chiller offers flexible installation options for both indoor and outdoor use, adapting easily to a wide variety of operational environments. All models support both 50 Hz and 60 Hz frequencies and are compatible with a broad range of standard power supplies, enabling straightforward integration into systems around the world.
Our chiller portfolio includes two main categories:
These industrial fluid chillers use a refrigerant gas circuit to regulate fluid temperature via a refrigerant circuit and are available in the following setups:
- Single-Channel: This unit is designed to control one independent cooling circuit; available in standard or rack-mounted formats.
- Dual-Channel: Capable of regulating two separate cooling loops, each with its own temperature setpoint.
- Thermoelectric Chillers:
These fluid chillers use Peltier technology to maintain precise fluid temperatures.
SMC chillers are suitable for cooling a range of temperature control. This helps increase operational efficiency, extend equipment lifespan, and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
Industrial fluid chillers are recommended in a variety of cooling situations:
- Using industrial water: While common, this approach can lead to quality concerns due to impurities in sources such as wells or reservoirs. These may introduce particles, algae, or scale, risking system damage.
- Using cooling tower water: Cooling tower systems often suffer from unstable temperatures and high maintenance and treatment costs. A dedicated fluid chiller can provide a more reliable and economical alternative.
- Using municipal water (potable water): Chillers help reduce dependency on potable water for cooling, lowering both water supply and drainage costs while supporting improved energy efficiency.
- Outdated or missing cooling method: If an existing chiller is obsolete or a process lacks proper cooling, investing in a modern chiller can reduce long-term maintenance expenses. Besides, new applications often need a cooling method, so it is crucial to find the right one.
How to choose the right industrial chiller?
When selecting a fluid chiller, the most critical factor is cooling capacity—the amount of heat the chiller can remove in a given period.
A second essential factor is pump performance, including flow rate and pressure. These values are interdependent and can be referenced using the “Flow-Pressure” graphs found in SMC catalogue.
If the cooling capacity or heat dissipation data is not available, you can calculate the appropriate chiller size using the following input values:
For accurate sizing, it is important to take into account both the fluid’s flow rate and the required discharge pressure. Ambient temperature should also be factored in, as it can influence the chiller’s performance and required specifications.
Chiller selection can be done manually or with the assistance of engineering tools such as our dedicated chiller selection software. This tool offers detailed charts for cooling and pump capacity, helping you identify the ideal model for your operational needs.
Need support in choosing the right industrial chiller? Our temperature control experts are ready to assist you.
