Sourcing Glycol Evaporator Unit

[BOULDERZEUS]

Hi all,

I am trying to re-install a rooftop condenser that was left by the previous tenants in our warehouse space. When the former tenants moved out, they took all the indoor components to their glycol system and left the rooftop condenser. I am trying to figure out where to source the indoor components for this system for use with chilling glycol. As I understand it, the main indoor component we are missing is the evaporator. Normally when people talk about evaporators they are referring to something that is inside a walk-in cooler and has fans. I am not looking for this type of evaporator. I am looking for something that is more of a heat exchanger with a copper loop for refrigerant and glycol would be pumped through the other half of this heat exchanger. Does anyone know what this type of evaporator is called? Looking for some brand names or general guidance getting a properly sized evaporator for our glycol use.

I have a technician that is willing to install these items I was just hoping to purchase the system myself and have him install it.

I attached a photo of the entire rooftop unit and a photo of the info sticker on the rooftop unit. Any guidance is appreciated!

[Starcat]

DX-Unit

Hi all,

I am trying to re-install a rooftop condenser that was left by the previous tenants in our warehouse space. When the former tenants moved out, they took all the indoor components to their glycol system and left the rooftop condenser. I am trying to figure out where to source the indoor components for this system for use with chilling glycol. As I understand it, the main indoor component we are missing is the evaporator. Normally when people talk about evaporators they are referring to something that is inside a walk-in cooler and has fans. I am not looking for this type of evaporator. I am looking for something that is more of a heat exchanger with a copper loop for refrigerant and glycol would be pumped through the other half of this heat exchanger. Does anyone know what this type of evaporator is called? Looking for some brand names or general guidance getting a properly sized evaporator for our glycol use.

I have a technician that is willing to install these items I was just hoping to purchase the system myself and have him install it.

I attached a photo of the entire rooftop unit and a photo of the info sticker on the rooftop unit. Any guidance is appreciated!

[ATTACH]64711[/ATTACH][ATTACH]64712[/ATTACH]

This is a Direct Expansion condensing unit rated at 80250 BTU/hr Medium temp.
Its meant to serve a DX heat exchanger. This is not the standard type of unit used for glycol service. Although it can be done, you would be taking the long and very pricey way round to use it for glycol service. Why do you want to do this? The quickest way to make this thing run it to get the correct matching Fancoil from Heatcraft and run it as a walk in cooler. This is assuming it is still in working order. Running glycol fan banks is a very different affair and you are generally better off not having all your cooling sourced from a single chiller. As thus, it better to have your walk in on DX.
That hot gas bypass that appears to be piped in raises red flags and was done very poorly. Where is the front grill to the condensing unit?

[BOULDERZEUS]

Ok interesting to hear that, I thought the previous tenant was using this unit to chill glycol. They had a large reservoir indoors positioned near this unit, close to the ceiling. I could totally be wrong tho, they made soup and probably had lots of various refrigeration systems.

I took the grate off to take the photo.

We don't have any extra walk-in coolers right now, but I'll remember that for the future. I really appreciate the info!



There is a second rooftop unit that I thought was for a walk-in cooler, but it's configuration is a little different than the previous (it's missing that large center component from the previous unit). Here's a photo:



Do you think this unit was also meant to serve a walk-in? Thanks again.

[Starcat]

What was

Ok interesting to hear that, I thought the previous tenant was using this unit to chill glycol. They had a large reservoir indoors positioned near this unit, close to the ceiling. I could totally be wrong tho, they made soup and probably had lots of various refrigeration systems.

I took the grate off to take the photo.

We don't have any extra walk-in coolers right now, but I'll remember that for the future. I really appreciate the info!



There is a second rooftop unit that I thought was for a walk-in cooler, but it's configuration is a little different than the previous (it's missing that large center component from the previous unit). Here's a photo:

[ATTACH]64713[/ATTACH][ATTACH]64714[/ATTACH]

Do you think this unit was also meant to serve a walk-in? Thanks again.

This is a Medium Temp condensing unit. They are typically used for walk in cooler loads. If you wanted to size a glycol to dx heat exchanger for that BTU/hr range it could be used to chill glycol, but this is called a built up system and you have to design a workable control scheme. Its a major lot just to use something that is better suited to a different purpose.
I have an old pair of DX to glycol heat exchangers that were being used on exactly that type of system. They are in fact for sale. I think they were running at about 3 tons per circuit.
You are way better of with a modular chiller on a nice sized glycol central well. This type of system is expandable if installed with this in mind. Even for a small operation I would want at least some redundancy on compressors for glycol service. Package or not.

[BOULDERZEUS]

Great info, thanks again Warren. Yeah just a shame to see them doing nothing on our rooftop. I understand that it would be way nicer to have a modular chiller. Although we already have a Mad Max vibe in our brewery, and we have a tech that is willing to throw together a built up system (he has already done it for a local meadery). He just wasn't sure what evaporator-type-unit to use without looking into it - so here I am asking questions that are mostly over my head. Anyway, I would be interested to show him some info on these DX to glycol heat exchangers, if you wouldn't mind. Also what's your ballpark price on those?

[Starcat]

Ok

Great info, thanks again Warren. Yeah just a shame to see them doing nothing on our rooftop. I understand that it would be way nicer to have a modular chiller. Although we already have a Mad Max vibe in our brewery, and we have a tech that is willing to throw together a built up system (he has already done it for a local meadery). He just wasn't sure what evaporator-type-unit to use without looking into it - so here I am asking questions that are mostly over my head. Anyway, I would be interested to show him some info on these DX to glycol heat exchangers, if you wouldn't mind. Also what's your ballpark price on those?

I can send you details on email and tell you exactly how to build up such a system in basics, and give you a pump spec as well.
You have about 6 nominal tons of refrigeration at 25F evaporator, so the HX's I have could work for you as long as you run them both full on in parallel. Realize I was running 2 each 3 Ton condensing units staged. Because the capacity of said units is very abstract as it deals with variable mass flow on the glycol, side. It can be hard to nail down the exact capacity relative to your condensing unit. The units are made by Alfa Laval and their Enginnering dept, can be consulted. The main thing is you are adequately loaded and not " under loaded for your operating conditions. The HX units can be gotten cheaply, like $350.00 each. You will need to fit them 2 each 3 ton R-404A expansion valves. If you have a cracker jack HVACR guy of Master level skills, he can make it all go. You can get me on forum PM to set email link up. I am sure you are aware that you will not know the real status of the Heatcraft unit until you start it up.
Glycol Fancoils are larger bore than DX and are circuited differently. They are quite a bit more expensive than DX units and hard to find used.

[BOULDERZEUS]

Great! Still waiting for my refrigeration tec to stop by the brewery to read this thread and see if it all makes sense to him as well.

Edit** Ok I'll PM you my email instead of leaving it here.