A chiller is a versatile refrigeration machine used to cool a liquid (usually a glycol/water mixture) that circulates to regulate the temperature of many different processes: distillation columns, type coolers, heat exchangers, fermenters, etc. The most important thing in your process when controlling temperature and time is that an industrial chiller will provide a constant supply of coolant for the job.
Why does my winery need a water machine?
Your cooler provides coolant to condense the steam in the still and cool the mashed potatoes from the heat of the cooking process. Historically, water was used to cool stills - and in some select stills this way is still present today. Most people are turning to coolers these days because of their fast cooling capabilities, as well as their water-saving features. The cooler allows the glycol/water mixture to operate in a closed loop, which means no waste. Also, the faster the syrup cools, the less likely it is for bacteria to grow.
What should I pay attention to when buying a chiller?
Brewery Chillers Our 12-ton air-cooled chiller can handle a heat load of 142,800 BTU/hour or 41.85 kW. The wineries we work with typically use this model.
First, make sure that the chiller to be installed has an adequate heat load. Also known as cooling capacity, heat load is the rate at which a cooler cools the process fluid. We don't want you to know how many BTU/hr or kW you need to maintain (we'll help you here), but not all coolers are built to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations used in distillation. Rapid cooling of 150°F mashed potatoes to 80°F prior to fermentation can cause pressure in an incorrectly sized cooler.
How to choose the right cooler?
Each winery we work with is unique and requires different production schedules, space requirements and future growth plans. Once you've determined the size of your still and masher, we can begin to help you design your winery cooling system.
Knowing when your equipment is running will also go a long way. For example, as your winery grows, you may decide to increase production by adding night shifts – this will almost always require a larger cooler than the one you originally purchased. Discussing your future growth plans with a process cooling technician can help you save long-term costs at your winery while reducing potential stress on your coolers.
In a winery, your cooler has multiple processes that require its ongoing support. Therefore, the ideal cooling process should be designed with the rest of the distillation equipment and purchased at the same time as the still. Discuss your cooling needs with an engineer who understands the distillation process is key to choosing the right cooler.
RICOM Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer specializing in industrial temperature control technology for 20 years. It implements the modern quality management system S09001: 2008 and environmental system IS014001: 2004 standards to ensure that the enterprise team continues to be in the technical field. Innovation, focus on customer use and satisfaction, and have been unanimously recognized by the industry and customers.
