Key Questions to Ask When Ordering Industrial Chiller Supplier

CHOOSING A CHILLER: 5 FACTORS TO CONSIDER

When it comes to chillers, figuring out where to start is the tricky part. Air-cooled or water-cooled? Used or new? What size do you need? The experts at Cold Shot Chillers cover all of these questions and more in today's article.       

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What Are Industrial Chillers?

An industrial chiller is a refrigeration system that keeps equipment and materials cool, allowing operations to run smoothly. Air Conditioners dehumidify air while water chiller systems cool down fluids that can be used to condition spaces or cool processes, simply by removing heat. However, these units are not 'cooling' or 'chilling' anything; they simply remove heat.

Factors to Consider for Your Chiller Choice

There are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when selecting a new cooling system. Keep reading to gain a better understanding of the different chiller types available on the market.

1. Size

Size is one of the biggest factors to consider when buying a chiller. Selecting a correctly sized chiller is paramount. A chiller that is too small won't properly cool your equipment or materials. On the other hand, a chiller that is too large will work just fine, but providing excess capacity will over time fail prematurely due to short cycling. In addition, you've spent more money than you needed to. So how do you know what size chiller you need?

Industrial chillers come in a variety of sizes, ranging from ¼ ton to thousands of tons in capacity. We recommend you use a chiller size calculator to determine what size chiller you need for your application. Below are some examples of chiller sizes based on industry standards.

• Medical Chillers ' 7 ½ ton and 5-ton chillers; or 12 ½ and 15-ton chillers for cooling multiple medical devices simultaneously
• Welding Chillers ' it's advised to have at least 1-ton of chilling capacity for 100KVA of welder capacity
• Winery Chillers ' typically, a 2-ton air cooled chiller is sufficient for most winery applications
• Waterjet Cutting Chillers ' common sizes are 2 and 3 ton
• Hydroponic Chillers ' sizes generally range from 1.5 to 100 tons
• Flower Chiller ' sizes range typically from 2-100 tons

Keep in mind that these sizes are only based on industry standards. Manufacturers like Cold Shot Chillers can design and build custom units of virtually any size. We highly recommend using a chiller sizing tool with exact measurements for the most accurate estimation. You can also reach out to our experienced team for additional help with sizing requirements or general questions.

2. Application

Chillers have various applications for all types of industries. For example, they are used for medical applications such as radiotherapy, PET scans, laboratory operations, and even blood bank refrigeration. In addition, MRI chillers and CT chillers are used frequently in the healthcare sector.

Food processing chillers serve a variety of applications in the food and beverage industry. Depending on your specific setting, you can choose from bakery chillers, winery glycol chillers, brewery glycol chillers, dairy milk chillers, and even commercial yogurt machine chillers.

Metal finishing chillers can be beneficial for paint and powder coating, anodizing, die casting cooling, furnace cooling, quench cooling, and more.

Explosion-proof chillers are commonly used in chemical processing plants, coal plants, oil and gas refineries, and other work environments that interact with flammable gases and vapors.

Cold Shot Chillers offers additional industry-specific chiller types, including laser chillers, plastic processing chillers, government and municipal chillers, welding chillers, and more. 

3. Type

Industrial chillers can be categorized in a few different ways. Let's take a look at five types of chiller classifications.

• Air Cooled Chillers ' Air-cooled systems are generally cheaper than water-cooled chillers. However, they tend to release significant amounts of heat, so these chillers are best-suited for facilities where heat is not an issue.
• Water Cooled Chillers ' Water chillers are typically quieter and more efficient than air-cooled chillers. Therefore, they are suitable for commercial-scale and small-scale facilities.
• Portable Chillers ' In this case, the term 'portable' does not refer to the mobility of the chiller. Instead, it means that a chiller contains all the system's basic components in a single footprint.
• Stationary Chillers ' Chillers that are 'stationary' do not include a tank or pump. Instead, they are stand-alone units that must be connected to a reservoir and pump to function.
• Central Chillers ' These chillers are used to cool several processes. They can have a portable or stationary configuration, and they can be air-cooled or water-cooled.

4. Pricing

Industrial chillers can range in price anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. As mentioned before, water chillers are typically more expensive than air-cooled chillers. In addition, different chiller manufacturers all design and price their systems uniquely, so make sure to carefully compare prices and weigh your options before making a purchase.

5. Manufacturer

Always familiarize yourself with the manufacturer and their policies ahead of time. Ask the following questions and more before choosing a chiller:

• Do they offer a chiller warranty?
• What's the turnaround time?
• How are new chillers tested?
• Do they offer chiller accessories and tools?
• How is the chiller prepped for shipment? 
• Has the company been around for a while? The longer a company has been in business chances are good the company is reputable and trustworthy.
• Does the chiller design use any proprietary components? That replacement part might carry a high price tag since these types of parts are generally used to control the chiller. Over time these items become obsolete and no longer supported.
• How easy is it to reach a live person? Can you get technical and commercial issues resolved over the quickly?
• Has the chiller manufacturer built a chiller handling the same type of application or something similar?
• Does the chiller company make it easy to do business with? Can you discuss your application with a knowledgeable technical representative? Can you get a quote issued for your project quickly? Does the submittal information include everything you need about the chiller you are considering?
• Deal directly with the manufacturer to cut out the middleman. This will alleviate any confusion on how your chiller should be configured and possibly save some time and money.

Looking to buy a new or used chiller? Look no further! Cold Shot Chillers is a Houston-based industrial chiller manufacturer with decades of industry experience.

Want more information on Industrial Chiller Supplier? Feel free to contact us.

Finding the Right Chiller for Your Company

We hope that you've learned some valuable information here that will help you make the best purchase. We're confident that we can find a solution for you, no matter what you're looking for!

So, you need to upgrade or replace your imaging systems process chiller. If you are like many decision makers, some anxiety about the series of decisions required for such an undertaking is normal. 

Below, I have provided some information that will assist you with your research and decision process. For more detailed information and rating tools to evaluate various process chiller manufacturers, check out the Process Chiller Buyers Guide available at legacychillers.com  

#1: Do I buy a process chiller bundled with my imaging system (OEM supplied) or shop and buy direct?

Let's face it, time is money right? For an owner or manager of a medical imaging center, purchasing a process chiller is most likely not something you will do on a regular basis. For this reason, there is a strong argument to accept your OEM's proposal to bundle the chiller in with the total package.

If the above scenario sounds like a no brainier, and MANY owners go this way, there are pros and cons to a bundled package.  Like many things in business, there are pros and cons to consider as follows:

The PROs:

It's one price that can be budgeted into your financing. One stop shipping can be more time efficient for the initial purchase. 

The CONs:

Since most OEMs sell medical imaging gear all over the world, they generally have pre-engineered process chillers that may or may not be equipped with the correct features (see below on features) for your operating environment. Additionally, you can expect to pay double (or more) for the initial cost of the chiller as well as repair services if the OEM bundles that in as well. 

 Bottom line, if you have time to shop (and ask the right questions) you can usually save significant costs both long and short term. It's also possible to expect less downtime and lower overall operating costs by working direct with a qualified chiller manufacturer that can sell you a properly equipped process chiller specifically designed for your operating environment. On the services side, there are many Independent Service Operators (ISOs) that can provide excellent service on your chiller as well as imaging gear at a lower cost than an OEM. If you are interested in finding an ISO active in your market, please consider reaching out to Legacy. We can generally provide you with several referrals. 

#2: How much can I expect to pay for a process chiller?

Prices can vary a lot depending on the cooling load of your imaging system and your operating environment. Most imaging systems require from 60,000 btuh (5 ton) to 180,000 bthu (15 ton) process chiller capacities.

We have found that cost per ton is the best overall method for budgeting.  Assuming you purchase a chiller specifically designed for mission critical applications, you can expect to pay from $1,400 to  $1,800 per ton. Generally, the more tons you purchase, the lower the cost per ton. Please keep in mind the cost per ton method generally does not include installation or maintenance costs. If you need pricing on system design and/or installation of your next chiller system, consider reaching out to Legacy. We can generally provide you with several referrals. 

#3: What features should my process chiller have?

This subject is probably one of the least understood, yet the most important. I can't tell you how many times we get calls from buyers of other brand chillers in a panic because they just can't get their chiller to work right. Below I have listed the most important process chiller features and when they should be applied:

• Glycol rated evaporator: If your chiller is mounted outside and your outdoor ambient can get to below zero, you MUST run HVAC grade glycol in your process chiller with very few exceptions. If you need to run glycol concentrations higher then 20%, you will need an upgraded evaporator in your chiller. Some manufactures do not offer this feature. If the above conditions apply to your site, please consider asking for this when you get a quote. 
• The right pump: Although your imaging gear will have specific flow and pressure requirements, the distance between your process chiller and the mechanical room can dramatically impact the chillers pumping requirements. If you are buying a replacement chiller, DO NOT fall into the trap of simply matching the pump horsepower of the old chiller. This can lead to some significant and costly problems you don't need.
  
  If your current chiller's pump is running, the best way to go is to get ALL of the information on your pump along with supply and return pressure readings. With that information, the chiller manufacturer should be able to properly specify the right pump for your system's operating environment. 
• Low ambient - Condenser Fan cycle: If your chiller utilizes an air-cooled condenser, is mounted outside and your ambient has the potential to drop below 40F, adding a condenser fan cycle feature is highly recommended.  
• Low ambient - Flooded condenser: If your chiller utilizes an air-cooled condenser, is mounted outside and your ambient has the potential to drop below 20F, adding a flooded condenser feature is highly recommended.  
• Economizer: If your chiller utilizes an air-cooled condenser, is mounted outside and ambient has the potential to drop below 40F, an addition of an Economizer feature can reduce your chiller's energy usage up to 60%.  For more information on process chiller economizers, check out Legacy Chillers Nexus line. 
• Remote alarming: For Mission Critical process chiller applications this is a VERY valuable feature. The ability to connect your chiller to the Internet and send out alerts and other predictive data that can impact the reliability of your system is VERY important.  There is a limited number of process chiller manufacturers that offer this feature. Nonetheless, if it is offered, we highly recommend adding this feature for any mission critical process chiller applications. 

#4: When buying a chiller direct from a manufacturer, who do I call when it needs service?

Since a process chiller is basically a refrigeration system cooling water, very similar to an air conditioning (AC) system that cools air, a qualified journeymen level HVACR technician can provide most services needed on a chiller. A great place to start is with your current HVACR service provider maintaining your facility's air conditioning systems. Many times, they will have technicians on staff that are familiar with process chillers. There are also some potential cost savings advantages of having your process chiller serviced at the same time as your AC. 

#5: How do I keep my chiller downtime to a minimum?

Have a service agreement with a qualified HVACR contractor or ISO in place at all times. Look at repair recommendations and keep on top of routine maintenance schedules. This does represent a little administrative work your your part; however, it provides an excellent return on investment. Following these three items will reduce annual downtime, related to mechanical failures, by 80% or more. 

#5-1/2: How do I know the chiller I am getting is sized properly for my imaging system?

All OEM manufacturers of medical imaging equipment will provide a site preparation (name will vary) document that provides all site cooling (or chiller) requirements. It is highly recommended that you find that data and send it to a qualified process chiller manufacturer. In just a few pages, you can effectively communicate key information assuring the correct sizing of your chiller. Important note, PLEASE make sure the information you are sending is the correct data.

If your are replacing an older chiller, make sure to get all information from your existing chiller's pump, a photo of the chiller nomenclature tag and any other information you may have on it. Send it to a qualified chiller manufacturer and make sure to request the features (above) that your site needs. 

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