Why isn’t water used directly as the coolant in refrigeration plants?
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Today I talked with the refrigerant service provider at the factory about whether water can be used as a substitute for the coolant. The lowest winter temperature in this area is assumed to be -5°C. Pro: Using water directly is more economical and environmentally friendly; usually, the temperature of chilled water is kept above 5°C, so there should be no problems. The refrigerant lines are equipped with insulation measures to prevent freezing in winter. Opposition: Using ethylene glycol or propylene glycol as a coolant can prevent freezing and blockages in winter. In normal chemical plant designs, ethylene glycol solutions are used as the refrigerant in cooling stations. May I ask who else has a reason to use ethylene glycol as a refrigerant?
Our company uses water, and there’s no problem at all: lol
Theoretically, there is no problem using water, as the chilled water is used to control the temperature and the temperature of the units does not drop below zero; proper insulation of the pipelines ensures stable operation in winter. However, it is necessary to avoid areas where insulation is inadequate, and over time the insulation effect can suffer, which may lead to disconnections and subsequent freezing blockages
I also don’t think it’s very reliable; if water is used, how can freezing and condensation issues be addressed in winter? The flow rate in chilled water heat exchangers is generally low, making it difficult to prevent blockages due to cold weather.
Private enterprises that are not legitimate and on the verge of closing use water, while state-owned enterprises and legitimate private enterprises use either ethylene glycol or calcium chloride
Being so straightforward will offend many people, you know;P
What if something goes wrong? Ethylene glycol can be used without any problems at all. If there are problems that cause delays in production, it can’t be made up for by using less water. .
Sometimes, a coolant is needed to be used at temperatures below 0°C; that is, when the temperature is below 0°C, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol must be used, but corrosion must be taken into consideration.
A person who acts in disregard of laws and rules is called a outlaw； A company that ignores standards and rules in its operations is one on the verge of collapse.
It needs to be added for industrial refrigeration, but not for domestic refrigeration, right?