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  • Glycol Lines

    Greetings. Anyone have any experience running/using glycol lines coming up from the floor into the FV's as opposed to hanging from the ceiling? We are expanding into a historic building and are brainstorming ways to avoid having glycol lines running all around and potentially "ruining" the historic aesthetic. Thanks for any help!

    Ryan

  • #2
    Not talking from personal experience, so, take this with a grain of salt, but, seems like they'd constantly be getting in the way underfoot – tripping folks up, snagging hoses, PITA to clean around/under, etc.

    Maybe you can run them along a wall? Or suspend the mains at like 8' above the floor, so it's just wires and not fat insulated pipes hanging down from the ceiling (if this isn't an awful idea for engineerings reasons)?

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    • #3
      Considering the glycol is normally being lifted, and then drops, if shouldn't be too much of an issue... How tall are your fermenters going to be? Only issue I would see is a potential significant pressure drop on the last FV of the loop and not getting adequate flow up and through the jackets. I would contact a chiller company and ask. G & D has always been very responsive when I've had questions for them, although it shouldn't be too hard of a calculation to punch out on your own.
      Peter Landman | Brewmaster | Seabright Brewery | Santa Cruz, CA

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      • #4
        We've definitely seen many customers opt to run the glycol lines lower and pipe up to the tank jackets.

        One common issue experienced on glycol loops is that air can be trapped within the system- this prohibits flow and heat exchange. A remedy to remove the air is to install an air bleed device at the high points in the system. With running your lines at a height below the tank jackets could cause some issue with trapping air and care would need to be taken to bleed air individually at each vessel. This is primarily an issue at startup, once the air is purged initially the problem doesn't often reappear. Not a major issue that can't be dealt with, but something to keep in mind.

        As the other guys pointed out, your chiller manufacturer should always provide assistance in piping design, sizing, and layout- at least we do (and G&D appears to do also).

        Good luck with your project.

        Best Regards,

        Jim

        Pro Chiller Systems
        Pro Refrigeration Inc, manufactures, and distributes state-of-the-art chiller systems for the dairy, craft brewing, wineries, & many more!

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