Pure Thermal supplies glycol chiller systems intended for sites that require consistent cooling for production, HVAC, and process use. These systems deliver reliable thermal control across a wide range of commercial and industrial environments where standard water systems do not offer adequate frost protection or reliable low-temperature operation.
A glycol chiller uses a carefully balanced mixture of water and glycol to transfer cooling energy through a system. The addition of glycol lowers the freezing point of the circulating fluid, enabling the system to operate at lower temperatures without the risk of ice formation within pipework or heat exchangers.
This approach works effectively in applications where cooling demand is continuous year-round. Manufacturing processes, food production sites, and large commercial facilities often rely on glycol chillers to maintain equipment or products within a defined temperature range.
Operating Principles of Glycol Chillers
Glycol chillers follow the same core refrigeration cycle used in other chilled water systems. The unit absorbs heat from a process or space and transfers it through a heat exchanger, removing unwanted heat from the system to required operating conditions.
The glycol solution flows in a closed loop between the chiller and the connected equipment. As it moves through the system, it absorbs heat before returning to the chiller for cooling again. This continuous cycle provides steady 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 enable 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 low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants or natural refrigerants. This helps lower environmental impact compared to traditional cooling systems that rely on synthetic refrigerants with higher GWP values.
Natural refrigerant options such as website 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 future cooling investment, 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 interface with 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 upgrade 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.
Process Cooling in Manufacturing Environments
Cooling systems within manufacturing environments often operate continuously throughout the year. Equipment such as processing machinery, hydraulic systems, or packaging lines produce heat as part of normal use.
A glycol chiller extracts generated heat and maintains equipment within a controlled 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 3 MW, 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 facilities
- Commercial HVAC installations
- Process cooling circuits
- Cold storage environments
In each case, the objective remains the same: the system must maintain stable temperatures 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.