Chillers play a key role in temperature control in the chemical industry, and their applications run through core production processes, equipment safety and product quality assurance. The following are the main application scenarios and features:
I. Core application scenarios
✅Cooling of chemical reaction processes
Exothermic reaction control: Violent exothermic reactions such as polymerization, nitration, and sulfonation require rapid removal of heat to prevent temperature runaway (explosion risk) or by-product generation.
Reaction rate control: Accurately control the reaction temperature (±0.5℃ accuracy is common) to ensure that the reaction proceeds along the expected path and improve the yield of the target product.
Intermittent cooling: Chilled water is introduced into the jacket/coil of the reactor to achieve rapid cooling and termination of the reaction.
✅Gas/steam condensation and liquefaction
Distillation/rectification condenser: Condenses the top vapor (such as organic solvents, ammonia) into liquid to improve product recovery (such as using ethylene glycol chillers for antifreeze).
✅Crystallization and separation
Crystallization kettle temperature control: Slow cooling promotes orderly growth of crystals (such as pharmaceutical intermediates and fine chemicals) to avoid impurity embedding.
Centrifuge cooling: prevent heat-sensitive materials from denaturing during high-speed separation.
✅ Equipment and mechanical protection
Compressor interstage cooling: reduce gas temperature, reduce power consumption and protect equipment (such as air compressors, hydrogen compressors).
Bearing/lubricating oil cooling: prevent high temperature from causing equipment shutdown (such as large agitators, extruders).
Explosion-proof control room air conditioning: provide explosion-proof chillers for operating rooms in hazardous areas.
✅ Material storage and transportation
Cryogenic tank cold storage: maintain the stable state of liquid chemicals (such as peroxides, monomers) to prevent self-polymerization.
Pipeline cooling: ensure that high-freezing point materials (such as sulfur, molten wax) do not solidify during transportation.
2. Special needs and selection of the chemical industry
Key elements Description
Low temperature requirements Common range: 5℃ ~ -40℃ (ordinary chillers have a minimum of about 5℃, and deep cooling requires cascade/screw type).
Corrosion resistance The heat exchanger material must be resistant to chemical corrosion (such as titanium tubes resistant to chloride ions, 316L stainless steel resistant to acid).
Explosion-proof design Explosion-proof compressors, motors and electric control cabinets are required in explosive environments (certification level such as Ex d IIB T4).
Large cooling capacity & stability Continuous chemical production requires redundant design (N+1 backup) and 24/7 operation, and the cooling capacity often reaches hundreds to thousands of tons.
Special refrigerant Chilled water may be replaced by ethylene glycol solution (antifreeze), brine (low temperature) or heat transfer oil (high temperature difference).
Heat recovery and utilization Recover reaction heat to drive absorption chillers (such as lithium bromide units) to save energy and reduce consumption.
III. Key points of operation management
Strict control of water quality
Closed cycle: Add corrosion inhibitors and scale inhibitors, and regularly test water quality (conductivity, pH).
Open cycle (cooling tower): prevent algae and scale formation, and avoid blockage of heat exchangers.
Anti-leakage monitoring
Refrigerant leakage monitoring (mandatory requirement for ammonia systems), and linkage of combustible gas alarm devices.
Emergency backup system
Dual circuit power supply + backup chiller to prevent production interruption (especially involving dangerous processes).
Automation integration
Linked with DCS/PLC system, real-time adjustment of cooling capacity to match process fluctuations (such as reaction exothermic peak).
IV. Typical cases of Tekin cooling:
A petrochemical: low-temperature separation of olefin cracking gas (-30℃ grade cold water), catalyst preparation temperature control. Select Tekin Cooling to customize low-temperature water-cooled chiller 240HP units 2 units
Pharmaceuticals: antibiotic fermentation tank cooling, crystallization kettle gradient cooling, freeze dryer cold trap (below -40℃). Select Tekin Cooling to customize low-temperature water-cooled chiller 100HP units 2 units
Pesticides/dyes: diazotization reaction temperature control (0~5℃ explosion prevention), spray drying air inlet cooling.
Select Tekin Cooling air chiller 40HP units 10 units
New energy materials: lithium battery electrolyte preparation (anti-high temperature decomposition), polysilicon cold hydrogenation process. Select Tekin Cooling to customize 5 120HP air chillers
For more cases, please check our website: www.tekincooling.com
