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Information on Glycol

Information on Glycol

Information on Glycol

(OP)
Anyone has any experiences about using glycol as a cooling agent, any hazards and safety standards required?

RE: Information on Glycol

It should be mixed 60/40 or 50/50 with water.  The bulk of the specific heat and thermal conductivity comes from the water and not the glycol.

Don't let it boil, it's pretty nasty when that happens in a lab.  The fumes will burn your throat.

Make sure that the corrosion inhibitors are compatible with your plumbing.  Each manufacturer uses a different inhibitor and their products are definitely not interchangeable in critical applications.

You'll need to some sort of facility for reclaiming the antifreeze when draining the system, since you're not legally allowed to dump into the sewage system.

TTFN

RE: Information on Glycol

Propylene glycol is the non-poisonous variety, but costs quite a bit more. Ethylene glycol is much cheaper, and is the toxic one. A couple of table spoons can kill an adult.

The glycol in the loop should be sampled and tested at least yearly. People have had their systems corrode to death in a few years because they failed to do that.

RE: Information on Glycol

I have been a user of mono ethylene glycol for 7 years (chilled brine application). The concentration of the solution depends upon your temperature requirement. For example to use upto -20C, 10% v/v is sufficient. Perry's Chemical Engineers HandBook has these details.Higher concentrations (than required) will increase your energy cost because the specific heat of glycol solution increases and you have to pump more liquid.

As far as corrosion is concerned, it is far better than calcium chloride brine. Yet it is better to provide corrosion coupons.

My experience is that, MEG is not wild and tastes sweet

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