Chiller Winter Freeze Protection Guide

As the cold winter approaches, in order to ensure the normal operation of the chiller and extend its service life, freeze protection is crucial. So how can a chiller be protected from freezing? TEYU has carefully prepared a winter freeze protection guide to help you easily cope with cold weather!

Chiller Freeze Protection

When the temperature is below 0°C, antifreeze needs to be added

The importance of adding antifreeze

When the temperature is below 0°C, antifreeze needs to be added to the machine. Antifreeze can prevent the coolant from freezing in cold winter, which could burst the pipes inside the laser and chiller and damage the sealing of the pipes. It should be noted that our chillers have certain requirements for antifreeze; choosing the wrong one or using it improperly can damage the internal pipes of the equipment.

Choosing the right antifreeze

The requirements for choosing antifreeze are as follows: good antifreeze performance, corrosion resistance and rust resistance, no swelling or erosion of rubber sealed conduits, low-temperature viscosity not too high, and chemically stable.

Antifreeze mixing ratio

To ensure the normal operation of the chiller and laser and prevent machine damage, it is recommended that the proportion of antifreeze added not exceed 30%.

Principles for using antifreeze

The lower the concentration, the better. Most antifreeze is corrosive. Under the condition of satisfying antifreeze performance, the lower the concentration, the better.

The shorter the use time, the better. When the temperature remains above 5°C, the antifreeze must be completely drained, and the chiller should be rinsed multiple times with pure water or distilled water, then replaced with the usual pure water or distilled water. Do not mix. Avoid mixing antifreeze of different brands to prevent chemical reactions, precipitation, or bubbles due to different main components or additives.

Before starting the chiller in winter, check whether it is frozen

Before restarting the industrial chiller in winter, check whether the water circulation system of the chiller is frozen.

You can use the method of draining the circulating water. If the water flow is significantly reduced or cannot drain normally, it may be a sign of freezing. In addition, if starting triggers a flow alarm and there is no water flow, it may also be frozen.

If freezing occurs, first turn off the power to the chiller and related equipment to avoid damage. Then, you can use a heater (or small sun) to warm the chiller to help the ice melt. After the ice is completely melted, you can restart the chiller. During the process, don't forget to carefully check the chiller, external pipes, and related equipment to ensure the water circulation pipes are unobstructed. If the ambient temperature is below 0°C, and the user's conditions permit and there is no power outage locally, the user can choose not to turn off the chiller at night, keeping it running 24 hours a day to ensure the cooling water circulates and prevent freezing.

The chiller should be placed in a ventilated location and cleaned regularly

Chiller placement

Keep the chiller air outlet (fan) at least 1.5M away from obstacles, and the air inlet (dust filter) at least 1M away from obstacles, which is conducive to heat dissipation.

Chiller cleaning and dust removal

Regularly use an air gun to clean the dust and impurities on the chiller's dust filter and condenser surface to avoid poor heat dissipation. Note: Keep a safe distance between the air gun outlet and the condenser fins (about 15CM). The air gun outlet should blow vertically toward the condenser.

Maintenance method when the chiller is not used in winter

When the ambient temperature is below 0°C and the chiller is not used for a long time, to prevent the equipment from freezing and cracking, we need to perform drainage operations.

Drainage treatment

Chiller drainage

Drain cooling water: Open the drain valve at the bottom of the equipment to completely drain the cooling water. When draining the inside of the chiller, remove the inlet and outlet pipes, and open the water injection port plug and drain valve.

Blow dry pipes: Use a compressed air gun to blow the water out of the internal pipes. Note: Joints with yellow labels above/beside the water inlet and outlet cannot be blown with an air gun to avoid damage.

Storage treatment

After cleaning and drying the inside and outside of the chiller, reinstall the panels. It is recommended to temporarily store the equipment in a place that does not affect production, and cover it with a clean plastic bag to prevent dust and moisture in the air from entering the equipment.

Autumn goes, winter comes, frost falls; with freeze protection measures, no need to panic. Do a good job in chiller maintenance, and quietly wait for spring to return and hundreds of flowers to bloom.