Glycol Chillers for Industrial and Commercial Cooling Applications

Pure Thermal provides glycol chillers designed for sites that require consistent cooling for manufacturing, HVAC, and process applications. These systems deliver reliable thermal control across various commercial and industrial environments where water alone cannot provide sufficient freeze protection or consistent cooling performance.



A glycol chiller uses a carefully balanced mixture of water and glycol to transfer cooling energy through a system. The addition of glycol reduces the freezing point of the circulating fluid, enabling the system to operate at reduced temperatures without the risk of ice formation within pipework or heat exchangers.



This approach is well suited to applications where cooling demand is continuous year-round. Manufacturing processes, food production sites, and large commercial facilities often rely on glycol chillers to keep equipment or products within a defined temperature range.



Operating Principles of Glycol Chillers



Glycol chillers operate using the same core refrigeration cycle used in other chilled water systems. The unit removes thermal energy from a process or space and transfers it through a heat exchanger, extracting excess heat from the system to maintain.



The glycol solution flows in a closed loop between the chiller and the connected equipment. As it moves through the system, it captures heat before returning to the chiller for cooling again. This continuous cycle provides stable cooling output, which is essential for production lines and temperature-sensitive environments.



Because the glycol mixture can operate at sub-zero temperatures without freezing, these systems support applications where chilled water alone would not perform safely. In some cases, Pure Thermal systems can operate with leaving water or glycol temperatures as low as –30°C, depending on the application.



Use of Natural Refrigerants



Pure Thermal glycol chillers use refrigerants with reduced global warming potential or natural refrigerants. This reduces environmental impact compared to traditional cooling systems that rely on synthetic refrigerants with higher GWP values.



Natural refrigerant options such read more as hydrocarbon or CO2 systems also reduce the need for F-Gas compliance. This supports facilities against future refrigerant cost increases or regulatory changes linked to phased reductions in HFC refrigerants.



For businesses planning long-term cooling infrastructure, this offers a practical way to manage compliance requirements without needing major system changes at a later stage.



Integration with Existing Cooling Infrastructure



Pure Thermal glycol chillers can integrate with existing cooling plant. Many systems link to air handling units, fan coils, or production cooling circuits without the need for extensive site modifications.



This makes them suitable for retrofit projects where ageing chillers require replacement. Operators can modernise their cooling equipment while maintaining current distribution systems such as pipework and control infrastructure.



Where simultaneous heating and cooling demand exists, certain systems can also provide heat recovery outputs. Waste heat from the cooling cycle can be used elsewhere on site, for example for domestic hot water or space heating. In some applications, recovered heat can match or exceed the original cooling output under appropriate operating conditions.



Temperature Control for Production and Process Use



Cooling systems within manufacturing environments often operate continuously throughout the year. Equipment such as processing machinery, hydraulic systems, or packaging lines generate heat during operation.



A glycol chiller extracts generated heat and maintains equipment within a safe and stable working temperature range. This helps prevent overheating and supports consistent production output. In facilities where simultaneous heating demand exists, recovered waste heat can also reduce reliance on separate heating plant.



Pure Thermal chillers are available with capacities from 30 kW up to three megawatts, depending on project requirements. These systems support both new-build projects and upgrades to existing installations where cooling demand has changed.



Typical Applications for Glycol Chillers




  • Food and beverage processing

  • Manufacturing and production plants

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing sites

  • Commercial HVAC installations

  • Process cooling circuits

  • Temperature-controlled storage facilities



In each case, the objective remains the same: the system must deliver reliable temperature control and protect equipment or products from heat-related damage.



Engineering Support from Pure Thermal



Pure Thermal provides engineering support throughout each project stage, including application review, equipment selection, system commissioning, and ongoing maintenance assistance.



An in-house applications engineering team works with system designers and contractors to ensure that the selected glycol chiller matches site demand and operating conditions.



This structured approach helps reduce performance issues after installation, as system design takes account of load demand, operating temperatures, and integration with other plant already in use.



For organisations that require dependable process cooling, a correctly specified glycol chiller provides long-term temperature stability while supporting energy efficiency across the wider site.

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