What is a Process Chiller?
A process chiller is a refrigeration system using halocarbon or ammonia refrigerants that provide cooling for a process or industrial application. Since Cooling Technology, Inc only offers refrigeration systems, we will describe that type only. A refrigeration circuit consists of compressor(s), condenser(s), thermal expansion valve, and evaporator(s), at a minimum. Together, these components remove heat from a process load to provide consistent setpoint temperatures 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Process chillers are designed for the most rugged environments and conditions unlike commercial or HVAC chillers.
Who uses a Process Chiller?
Process chillers are used in a variety of industrial applications:
- Plastics Industry: The plastics industry uses process chillers to reduce cycle times in injection molding and blow molding by regulating temperatures
- Baking Industry: The baking industry may use process chillers in their process of mixing. The chilled water from a water chiller may be used to allow longer mixing times which improves the final quality for any grade of flour.
- Food Industry: The food industry uses process chillers to cool any process such as chocolate manufacturing, vegetable processing, meat massagers/injectors and confectionary manufacturing.
- Pharmaceutical Industry: The heat from emollient vats needs to go somewhere. This is where a Cooling Technology, Inc Process Chiller helps pharmaceutical companies save money by reducing the total manufacturing time, leading to cost savings in labor costs.
- Printing Industry: Process chillers can be used to regulate temperatures in presses and rollers which leads to reduction of stretching and bleeding. This in turn decreases the time needed to print which improves efficiency and leads to higher quality products at a cost savings.
- Other industries that benefit from the uses of a process cooler include boat & airplane manufacturing, metal finishers, skating rinks, chemical industry, composite manufacturers, laser cutting machines, dry cleaners, and the United States government uses many for military applications.