Ethylene Glycol Freeze Point Chart pH level: The pH should be ideally between 8 and 10. If your pH is too low, you may need to add additional inhibitors, or flush and refill the system, depending on your lab results.
Full Answer
What type of inhibited glycol should I use in my water chiller?
Glen Dimplex Thermal Solutions recommends the use of an industrial inhibited glycol and water mixture in its water chiller systems. Ethylene and Propylene are the two standard types of inhibited glycols that can be used in Koolant Koolers chillers.
What is the pH of ethylene glycol?
According to various manufacturers of uninhibited ethylene glycol, they state this chemical has a pH of 5.5 to 8.0. Most uninhibited ethylene glycol manufacturers do not specify a pH for this chemical; they state not applicable or not available (NA) on the product data sheet or material safety data sheet (MSDS).
What is the best glycol level for cooling material?
An ambient temperature of -50° F would be attainable with a 55% glycol level. In summary, the lower temperature you want, the higher glycol-water ratio you need. North Slope Chillers are the best product to use when cooling material. Using the right amount of glycol with the right chillers is essential to getting the job done.
What is the ideal glycol level for a north slope chiller?
An ambient temperature of -20° F would be attainable with a 45% glycol level. An ambient temperature of -50° F would be attainable with a 55% glycol level. In summary, the lower temperature you want, the higher glycol-water ratio you need. North Slope Chillers are the best product to use when cooling material.
What is the pH of ethylene glycol?
5.5 to 8.0According to various manufacturers of uninhibited ethylene glycol, they state this chemical has a pH of 5.5 to 8.0. Most uninhibited ethylene glycol manufacturers do not specify a pH for this chemical; they state not applicable or not available (NA) on the product data sheet or material safety data sheet (MSDS).
How do you find the pH of glycol?
Testing Your Glycol pH Level. Using narrow range pH paper is an easy and reliable way to read your pH level. A pH tester can also measure alkalinity or acidity of the fluid. Any fluid with a pH below 7.0 should be replaced.
Does glycol change pH?
Aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are used as heat transfer liquids in flat-plate solar collector systems. Both of the glycols are susceptible to thermal oxidative reactions, which produce organic acids with a resulting decrease in pH of the solutions.
What is the pH of propylene glycol?
9.3 to 10.5Protein/propylene glycol alginate gels can be formed using 6% protein in a suitable 0.1 M buffer solution in the pH range 9.3 to 10.5.
How do you test for ethylene glycol in water?
Testing for antifreeze (ethylene glycol) in water is quick and easy. Simply add your sample to the fill line, break the three ampules in order and wait 30 seconds for color to form. If a dark blue color forms in the pouch there is ethylene glycol present in the sample.
Is glycol acidic or basic?
Ethylene glycol is a diol, an alcohol with a molecular structure that contains two hydroxyl (OH) groups, and terephthalic acid is a dicarboxylic aromatic acid, an acid with a molecular structure that contains a large, six-sided carbon (or aromatic) ring and two carboxyl (CO2H) groups.
What is a normal surface water pH level?
The normal range for pH in surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5 and for groundwater systems 6 to 8.5. Alkalinity is a measure of the capacity of the water to resist a change in pH that would tend to make the water more acidic.
How do you dilute ethylene glycol?
Ethylene glycol: how to dilute? The reagent should be diluted with distilled or soft water with a minimum amount of impurities (especially calcium and magnesium salts). Otherwise, hardness salts will lead to the formation of sludge, which negatively affects the cooling or heating system.
What is the role of ethylene glycol when added to water?
Addition of glycol lowers the freezing point of water in the radiator so that the cold winter temperatures wouldn't burst the lines and thus, glycol-water mixture is used as antifreeze in radiators of cars.
What's the difference between ethylene glycol and propylene glycol?
Propylene glycol solutions have higher viscosity and higher freezing point than ethylene glycol at the same percentage, causing it to be less thermally efficient than ethylene glycol, especially at lower temperatures. Propylene glycol is also more expensive than ethylene glycol.
How can you tell the difference between propylene and ethylene glycol?
A. Yes it is possible to differentiate between ethylene glycol and propylene glycol using both refractive index and specific gravity. The key to differentiate the two is to use the physical differences with regard to specific gravity and refractive index.
What is better ethylene glycol or propylene glycol?
Main differences between propylene glycol and ethylene glycol: Between the two ethylene glycol is a better heat transfer fluid than propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is less toxic and is considered when toxicity is a concern.
Why is it impossible to read pH of 100 percent uninhibited ethylene glycol?
It is almost impossible to achieve an accurate pH reading for 100 percent uninhibited ethylene glycol because it is an organic liquid. pH meters are susceptible to errors and instability when exposed to organic chemicals.
How much water does uninhibited ethylene glycol absorb?
Uninhibited ethylene glycol, like other glycols, is hygroscopic; it will absorb moisture from its environment. The amount of water absorbed from its environment is proportional to the percent relative humidity (figure 1). At 50 percent relative humidity, 100 percent uninhibited ethylene glycol will absorb 20 percent water at equilibrium. This drops the concentration of uninhibited ethylene glycol from 100 percent to 83.3 percent.
How long does it take for ethylene glycol to degrade?
The above research indicates that uninhibited ethylene glycol does not begin to degrade and become acidic until after three weeks under extreme conditions (212 o F [100 o C] and oxygen bubbling into the uninhibited ethylene glycol solution).
What metals can be used with uninhibited ethylene glycol?
Many chemical resistance guides list that copper, aluminum and other metals are acceptable for use with uninhibited ethylene glycol. Usually, their recommendations are based on a two-week chemical compatibility study exposing various metals to uninhibited ethylene glycol at various temperatures. The above research indicates that uninhibited ethylene glycol does not begin to degrade and become acidic until after three weeks under extreme conditions (212 o F [100 o C] and oxygen bubbling into the uninhibited ethylene glycol solution). So, the chemical resistance guides are based on the "solvency" effects of uninhibited ethylene glycol rather than the degraded, acidic uninhibited ethylene glycol effects on metals. The latter is much more corrosive toward metals.
What are the five acids that ethylene glycol degrades into?
This advisory bulletin references the research of Dr. Walter Rossiter and his team of the National Bureau of Standards, now named the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Rossiter and his team conducted experiments that showed uninhibited ethylene glycol will degrade into five organic acids -- glycolic, glyoxylic, formic, carbonic and oxalic -- in the presence of heat, oxygen, copper and aluminum.
How does air enter a closed loop chiller?
Air (humidity) can enter a chiller when the cap to the tank is removed for filling. Also, air can enter when the cap to the tank is removed to visually inspect the fluid level and during subsequent top-offs with uninhibited ethylene glycol. Air also enters the chiller via any left open valves or any leaks (loose hose clamps) in the system. Finally, uninhibited ethylene glycol is viscous and will entrap air when it is poured.
What is a gas chromatography mass spectrometer?
A gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/Mass Spec) is used to detect organic compounds in a solution. This analytical tool can measure the organic acids that develop when uninhibited ethylene glycol starts to degrade.
What is industrial grade glycol?
Industrial grade glycol is composed of either ethylene or propyleneglycol, a corrosion inhibitor, and water. Note that automotive gradeglycol should not be used in commercial or industrial glycol systemsbecause their corrosion inhibitors have a limited useful life and theycontain silicates which can foul or plug the system.
What test is performed to minimize fouling and/or corrosion of glycol systems?
In order to minimize fouling and/or corrosion of glycol systems, thefollowing control tests must be performed (note that due to the moresophisticated nature of the chemical tests for glycol systems, theglycol, pH & reserve alkalinity levels in glycol samples are performedby the PWS&S Property Management, Operations DivisionLaboratory):
What is glycol system?
glycol system (see schematic diagram overleaf) is a cooling orheating system in which an ethylene or propylene glycol-watersolution is circulated throughout the building or throughcooling/heating coils in an HVAC system in order to provide spacecooling/heating without the inherent risk of freeze damage.
Is propylene glycol LD50 toxic?
The LD50 acute oral toxicities of ethylene and propylene glycols forrats are 6.1 gm/kg and 33.7 gm/kg respectively; therefore, bothmaterials should be considered to be toxic when they areintentionally consumed in thirst quenching quantities. However,propylene glycol is considered safe for use in foods because of itslow chronic oral toxicity, whereas ethylene glycol is too toxic forapplications where there is a possibility of ingestion.
What is glycol in chiller cooling?
Glycol is a staple in all chiller-based cooling systems operating at or below 6˚C, adding antifreeze protection. It’s recommended that you use a high-quality glycol with built-in OAT inhibitor packs to suit your process operating characteristics. This will help to protect your system from glycol degradation, corrosion and bacteria as well as ...
What happens if you degrade glycol?
Degradation of glycol can cause lactic acid to form which can lead to rapid system corrosion left untreated. Equally, too much glycol can lead to system inefficiencies from reduced heat transfer ability and increased viscosity.
Why is it important to use glycol to water?
It is very important to use the correct mixture of inhibited glycol to water in your system; too little encourages bacteria growth and brings with it the risk of freezing.
What is glycol in a chiller?
Glycol. It’s a critical part of most process chiller systems. Used in conjunction with water, the mixture is the liquid that flows through the chiller system and keeps your products cool. The amount of glycol and water in the mixture is not finite, however.
What is the freezing point of water glycol?
Interestingly, the freezing point of a water-glycol mix is much lower than water or glycol individually. Let’s run through a few examples: according to the chart above, if you wanted to reach an ambient temperature of 10° F, you would need a glycol level of 28% in your water-glycol mixture. An ambient temperature of -20° F would be attainable ...
How cold does glycol freeze?
Reference this chart in deciding how much glycol is necessary for your product. Water freezes at 32° F; however, glycol freezes at 9° F. Mixing the two lowers the freezing point of water, allowing it to run through a chiller system at much lower temperatures without freezing.
Why is glycol important?
The purpose of glycol is to lower the freezing point of water. Different ratios of water-to-glycol will result in different freezing temperatures.
What does it mean to use glycol properly?
Different ratios of water-to-glycol will result in different freezing temperatures. Using glycol properly means knowing how much you need to use. The lower temperature you want equals a higher glycol-to-water ratio. Reference this chart in deciding how much glycol is necessary for your product.
What is the best product to use when cooling material?
In summary, the lower temperature you want, the higher glycol-water ratio you need. North Slope Chillers are the best product to use when cooling material. Using the right amount of glycol with the right chillers is essential to getting the job done.
What water to use for a chiller?
Most systems use ordinary mains “tap” water. However applying the appropriate inhibitors is of vital importance to prevent chiller system damage. Using one of the “Pure” waters – distilled, demineralised, de-ionised or RO Water – will remove all the unpredictability associated with town mains water.
How does glycol antifreeze affect your system?
It will therefore produce a slightly reduced cooling capacity, increase pumping power consumption and increase the fluid temperature difference. Flowcool IG.
Is Flowcool FS a toxic additive?
These are propylene-based glycols; FlowCool FS has been tested by the National Sanitary Foundation. They are non-toxic and are the antifreeze additives of choice for applications in the food and beverage industry and where user contact is a frequent occurrence. Flowcool Bio.
Is flowcool biodegradable?
Flowcool Bio. This is a BIO-glycol which is derived from a sustainable source and is non-toxic, nonflammable, non-hazardous and biodegradable. It is the ideal solution for sites and applications where environmental concerns are paramount. What water to use. Most systems use ordinary mains “tap” water.
Do you need to flush a chilled water system?
The chilled water system must be flushed, cleaned and sanitised prior to adding a new water/glycol solution. The water/glycol solution must be regularly sampled and tested to ensure there are no underlying or progressive contamination and/or corrosion issues arising.