why is there a GPH requirement for chillers?

tangtang81 · 06/23/2008, 01:44 PM

Can someone explain why there is a GPH/ GPM requirement for chillers?

Do they work better at the higher or lower required GPM?

When thermostat is set lower.....do they cool more(as in cooler) or just longer? (i know may be a stupid question)

thanks

strittmatter · 06/23/2008, 01:48 PM

To fast and the water will not have a long enough contact time to chill, and to slow it could freeze or be to cold coming out. IMO the best GPH would be in the middle of the recom. GPH range

tangtang81 · 06/23/2008, 05:08 PM

ic.....anyone for the temperature question?

OceansWonders · 06/23/2008, 05:18 PM

Thermoelectric chillers can run at various temperatures, compressor based chillers are on or off and will just run longer untill the set temp is reached.

tangtang81 · 06/23/2008, 06:05 PM

ok thanks. does anyone know how the GPM related to the hp of the chiller?

SPDU4RIA · 06/23/2008, 06:32 PM

usually the higher HP chiller has a higher req. for flow, mainly because of the overall contact area in which the chiller has the ability to chill. In addition usually the higher HP chiller are made for systems that are huge, thus requiring a lot of flow in order to make actual difference in tank temps.

I have a 1/4hp chiller for my 103 gallon cube and push 700gph through it and it works great...

DarG · 06/23/2008, 06:59 PM

There are two designs out there in terms of compressor chillers. Some brands have cooler coil temps and higher flow rate requirements others have warmer coil temps and lower flow rate requirements. Usually it is some of the cheaper chillers have the warmer coil temps and slower flow rates. Basically, because the coils dont get as cool for a given size they require slower flow rates to be able to cool the tank at their best. It is important to stay within the manufacturers stated flow rates. Doing so will result in the most efficient cooling of your tank.

Few other things ...

The cooler the ambient temperature that the chiller is located in, the more efficient it will cool the water. Small differences can result in noticeable differences in chiller run time. The BTU of the chiller is actually rated at a given temperature. Any given chiller would actually have a higher BTU rating if it was tested in a lower ambient temperature. Try an locate your chiller so that the air it sucks in over the condensor when it runs is as cool as possible. For example, it is probably a few degrees warmer in your stand than outside of it if you have pumps located in there. The chiller will run for shorter time to cool the tank eacg cycle if you can locate it outside of the stand. Just one example.

Make sure that the hot air that it exhausts out the back is exhausted clear of the chiller. Dont have the chiller exhaust the hot air into the same closed in area that the chiller operates in.
Also, make sure the back of the chiller isnt right back up to a wall so that the exhausted hot air can flow clear of the chiller.

Just a few things to help your chiller run as efficiently as possible.

06/23/2008, 01:44 PM	#1
tangtang81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: FL Posts: 276	why is there a GPH requirement for chillers? Can someone explain why there is a GPH/ GPM requirement for chillers? Do they work better at the higher or lower required GPM? When thermostat is set lower.....do they cool more(as in cooler) or just longer? (i know may be a stupid question) thanks

06/23/2008, 01:48 PM	#2
strittmatter Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	To fast and the water will not have a long enough contact time to chill, and to slow it could freeze or be to cold coming out. IMO the best GPH would be in the middle of the recom. GPH range

06/23/2008, 05:08 PM	#3
tangtang81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: FL Posts: 276	ic.....anyone for the temperature question?

06/23/2008, 05:18 PM	#4
OceansWonders Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Decorah, Iowa Posts: 176	Thermoelectric chillers can run at various temperatures, compressor based chillers are on or off and will just run longer untill the set temp is reached.

06/23/2008, 06:05 PM	#5
tangtang81 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: FL Posts: 276	ok thanks. does anyone know how the GPM related to the hp of the chiller?

06/23/2008, 06:32 PM	#6
SPDU4RIA Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SEATTLE, WA Posts: 45	usually the higher HP chiller has a higher req. for flow, mainly because of the overall contact area in which the chiller has the ability to chill. In addition usually the higher HP chiller are made for systems that are huge, thus requiring a lot of flow in order to make actual difference in tank temps. I have a 1/4hp chiller for my 103 gallon cube and push 700gph through it and it works great...

06/23/2008, 06:59 PM	#7
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	There are two designs out there in terms of compressor chillers. Some brands have cooler coil temps and higher flow rate requirements others have warmer coil temps and lower flow rate requirements. Usually it is some of the cheaper chillers have the warmer coil temps and slower flow rates. Basically, because the coils dont get as cool for a given size they require slower flow rates to be able to cool the tank at their best. It is important to stay within the manufacturers stated flow rates. Doing so will result in the most efficient cooling of your tank. Few other things ... The cooler the ambient temperature that the chiller is located in, the more efficient it will cool the water. Small differences can result in noticeable differences in chiller run time. The BTU of the chiller is actually rated at a given temperature. Any given chiller would actually have a higher BTU rating if it was tested in a lower ambient temperature. Try an locate your chiller so that the air it sucks in over the condensor when it runs is as cool as possible. For example, it is probably a few degrees warmer in your stand than outside of it if you have pumps located in there. The chiller will run for shorter time to cool the tank eacg cycle if you can locate it outside of the stand. Just one example. Make sure that the hot air that it exhausts out the back is exhausted clear of the chiller. Dont have the chiller exhaust the hot air into the same closed in area that the chiller operates in. Also, make sure the back of the chiller isnt right back up to a wall so that the exhausted hot air can flow clear of the chiller. Just a few things to help your chiller run as efficiently as possible.