As an industrial chiller user, you must have frequently come across the question, “What is your chiller capacity?”
Well, being a chiller user, this is something that you must know about to ensure optimal cooling in your plant.
In most cases, the users have no idea of the chiller capacity. This isn’t something that is recommended.
What is Chiller Capacity?
Before calculating the chiller capacity, you need to know what refrigeration is all about. Refrigeration is the process in which heat is transferred from one place to another. How is this quantity measured? Well, it is measured in terms of capacity. The measurement is basically done in tons of cooling.
The tonnage can vary exponentially based on the coolest temperature and the percentage rating. The curve generated while mapping the two quantities determines how the capacity can vary based on the rise and fall of cooling temperature.
Nominal tons are calculated mainly at normal temperature, where the temperature of water entering the chiller is 50°F and the temperature of water leaving the chiller is 40°F. If you lower the temperature, the same unit will lose a certain capacity and vice versa.
The chiller capacity depends on the type of fluid being used as a coolant. For instance, using a glycol solution as a coolant in place of water will cause the unit’s heat transfer properties to change. The capacity value can easily be calculated using a Chiller capacity calculator.
Why calculate the chiller capacity?
How much cooling a chiller produces or is able to produce determines the exact purpose for which the chiller can be used. So, it is important to calculate the capacity beforehand. That way, you can invest in a chiller that has an optimum capacity for your exact application. A chiller with adequate chiller capacity will also ensure proper cooling. The energy consumption will also be reduced, leading to significant cost-savings.
Calculating the Chiller Capacity:
So, how do we calculate chiller capacity? Before you start with your calculations, you need to have the necessary data. Only then will you be able to calculate the chiller capacity. Here are some of the basic details that you would require before using a Chiller Unit capacity calculator:
- The volume flow rate of water into the evaporator.
- The temperature of the inlet and outlet chilled water.
- The density of the water at the average temperature.
- The specific heat capacity of the water at the average temperature.
Once you have all the required details handy, you can proceed with the manual calculation of the chiller capacity using the chiller capacity calculation formula.
The equation for calculating heat load is:
Q = ṁ x C x ΔT
- Q = Heat Load (BTU/hr)
- ṁ = Mass flow rate of fluid being cooled
- C = Specific heat of fluid (BTU/lb-°F)
- ΔT = Change in fluid temperature
In case you are using GPM (Gallons Per Minute) to calculate the heat load, the following conversions need to be done:
- 1 Gallon of water = 8.34 lbs
- 1 hour = 60 minutes
This factor becomes 499.8. So, our equation becomes:
Q = GPM x C x ΔT x 499.8
- Q = Heat Load (BTU/hr)
- GPM = Water flow in gallons per minute
- C = Specific heat of fluid (BTU/lb-°F)
- ΔT = Change in fluid temperature
- 499.8 = Constant converting lbs to GPM
In case any other fluid is used in place of water, the equation becomes:
Q = GPM x SG x C x ΔT x 499.8
- Q = Heat Load (BTU/hr)
- GPM = fluid flow in gallons per minute
- SG = Fluid Specific Gravity
- C = Specific heat of fluid (BTU/lb-°F)
- ΔT = Change in fluid temperature
- 499.8 = Constant converting lbs to GPM
So, the next time you invest in a chiller, make sure that you understand its capacity. Also, for the best quality chillers, Tempcon is your ultimate destination. Tempcon has the widest range of chillers available for various industrial applications. The devices are extremely easy-to-use and require low maintenance. They are also known for their energy-efficiency. To know more about their range of products, contact the experts at Tempcon today.
