Selecting the right size of glycol chiller can be confusing and complicated. Unfortunately, there is no single-step formula for sizing, since there are so many important factors in sizing.
But we can help. Pick the form for your industry and fill out as much of this form as you can — It does not need to be complete — to help us start the sizing process.
See the Q&A below the forms for answers to common questions about the forms and chiller sizing in general.
Why not just guess?
Selecting a larger chiller may not hurt your process directly, but may be significantly more expensive and require more space within the brewery or outside. That said, it may be right to select a larger chiller now for a planned expansion in a year or two, but it is best to size that way intentionally versus accidentally.
A chiller that’s too small will not be able to manage the high cooling loads required, particularly for crashing, which can affect your end product in a variety of ways. At best, it’s a waste of money as you immediately search for an upgrade. At worst, it can cost money and reputation.
Why do you need (XXX) information?
We know that you won’t know (or don’t have time to find) all of the information in the form. That is OK, and expected. Some of the fields make the others unnecessary. The more information you can provide, however, the better idea we’ll have when we contact you.
Geographic Location: The geographic location gives us a better idea of the ambient temperatures the chiller will face. (Larger chillers, in particular, are usually placed outdoors for space and on account of the heat they radiate.) Because of the science of cooling, chillers have difficulty operating in extremely high or extremely low temperatures, though they can be adapted for any environment.
Indoor/Outdoor Installation: See “Geographic Location” above. All chillers larger than 1.5 Tons (18,000 Btu/hr) are ready for indoor or outdoor installation, but may need special adaptations to work in extreme temperatures.
Ambient Temperature and Min/Max: See “Geographic Location” above.
Fluid To Be Cooled: Glycol, including food-grade glycol used in brewing applications, transfers heat a little less efficiently than water. Most breweries use between a 30% and 40% mix of glycol and water.
Maximum Electrical Voltage: Most normal commercial locations have 230V electricity available, while 460V electric is mostly in industrial parks. Our chillers run on 230V/3 Phase electric or 460V/3 Phase electric, but use different units for each type of electricity. If you are unsure of what you have, please let us know.
I have a variety of fermenters!
If you have fermenters of different sizes, list each individually, from largest to smallest, in the notes.
I have a variety of brite tanks!
If you have brite tanks of different sizes, list each individually, from largest to smallest, in the notes.
What are some sizing factors?
In addition to the information requested in the form to the left, here are some other factors:
These are representative of some other considerations in chiller sizing.
I have a quote I’d like you to match.
Great! Give us the model number and the options they quoted in the notes section, and we’ll price out our comparable unit quickly. We’re extremely confident in our value and expertise. If you’re concerned about whether they quoted the correct unit, fill out the form and we’ll compare.
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