Glycol Replacing Freon in Precooler Compressor

[RJB32482]

We are using a precooler with Freon as the heat transfer medium to cool incoming air to drop moisure out for a fluidized bed dryer. We are having many issues keeping the dryer inlet air dewpoint down (one of our process parameters) and as a solution, techs turn down the setting on what outside temperature the precooler starts. This leads to a frozen precooler coil (because moisture dropping out freezes on outside since coil temp goes to 0C), which needs thawed out before processing. Process design states to drop the incoming air to 7C.

I'm think about replacing the precooler fluid of Freon with a glycol solution. This is just a thought, but from other's perspective does this sound like a good idea? What would we lose with Glycol that we had with Freon (heat transfer, freezing point of glycol, etc). What would we gain?

Anyone have the freezing point of Freon. I don't think the Freon is the fluid that is freezing, just the condensed water on the coils is what freezes.

Thanks.

Thanks.

 

[pipehead]

you can't do that. you could use a glycol contactor system (TEG) to dry the air at 15C to a -5C dew point.

i've never seen frost on the outside of coolers unless the product on the inside was below 0C. If the air is cold, then there is no water in it to freeze.

Why not automate the precoolers with vfd fans or louvers on the cooler.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Discipline the techs or take them out of the loop.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA