Chiller

[Johnsteph10]

Just got a 1/4HP chiller.
Recommends 480gal per hour flow
Is that just a loose recommendation? (ie: can it range from 300 to say 600 without a problem?).

Just curious since it will be located approximately 8 feet below the sump in a basement and calculating head pressure is not an exact science...esp. with my wonderful mastery of math :wink:

Thanks,

John

 

[Mikef1]

Try to keep it between 400-500 gph.

 

[shellshocked]

John,
This is exactly how I installed my chiller. I mounted it in the basement. I ran the hose from my sump (which was below the tank in the stand on the first floor) down to the chiller and from the chiller up to the return pipe on my tank. The head pressure on the pump is not a factor if you do it this way (you do need to worry about the maximum pressure the chiller can handle but 8 feet should not be an issue). The size and length of the hose to and from the chiller will reduce the flow but probably not enough to cause an issue with the chiller. The flow ratings are a recommendation - I doubt the chiller will break (unless the water freezes) I have ran mine at some very low flow rates to control noise with no issues. I suspect the flow limitations are pressure related on the high end and temperature related on the low-end - I would be curious to hear what factors limit the real flow rate from the manufacturer.

 

[tangir1]

Ideally, you want the flow rate to be as great as possible, because the heat exchanger will be more efficient this way. However, due to the size limitation and cost of material, they construct the heat exchanger in such a way that it does not give you more cooling power due to conversion of electricity to heat energy from head pressure. As a compromise, they give you a recommanded flow rate for each specific heat exchanger/chiller.

In plan English, you want it to be as close to the suggest flow rate as possible. Too much, and you are adding heat to the water due to electricity to heat energy. Too little, you are not cooling the water as efficiently as you should, even the chiller is sucking up the same amount of electricity (and the compressor is not a little puppy either).

 

[Len]

I know from experience that too low a flow will literally turn the coil chamber to one block of ice.

 

[-JB]

I know from experience that too low a flow will literally turn the coil chamber to one block of ice.

Yup. That's the reason for the minimum flow rates. Not enough flow and it can ice up and crack the coil housing.