Understanding Glycol Beer Chillers: How Do They Work?

Glycol chillers are specialised refrigeration systems that are often used to cool liquids, including alcohol and other beverages. They are commonly used in bars, pubs, and restaurants to serve cold draft beer. A glycol chiller is a compact refrigeration unit that cools down beer and maintains the required temperature as the beer travels through a beer line from a walk-in cooler to the draft beer tower. The glycol never comes into contact with the beer. Instead, it is pumped through the glycol line, which is placed together with the beer line inside a trunk line. This setup ensures that the beer never gets warm and arrives foam-free at the dispensing point.

Glycol chillers are specialised refrigeration systems

A glycol chiller is a compact refrigeration unit that cools beer and maintains the required temperature as the beer travels through a beer line from a walk-in cooler to the draft beer tower. The glycol chiller acts as a refrigeration unit within a typical draft beer system. Inside the glycol chiller is a reservoir of glycol that is pumped through the glycol line (or lines) placed together with the beer line inside a trunk line. The beer lines come into contact with the cold glycol lines, ensuring the beer remains cold and arrives foam-free at the point of dispense.

The glycol used in chillers is propylene glycol, a food-grade antifreeze that is non-toxic. It is important to distinguish this from ethylene glycol, which is used in vehicles and is extremely toxic. Propylene glycol has a freezing point of -59°C (-74.2°F), which can be altered by mixing it with water. The ideal propylene glycol to water ratio is typically 35%–40%.

Glycol chillers are particularly useful for long-draw draft beer systems, where the chiller is located at least 75 feet away from the dispense point. They allow beer to be delivered over long distances, serve a larger number of beer towers, and minimise pour costs.

Propylene glycol is a food-grade antifreeze

One of the main advantages of using propylene glycol in beer cooling systems is its non-toxicity. Unlike ethylene glycol, which is used in automotive antifreeze, propylene glycol is safe for human consumption. This makes it ideal for applications where the product comes into direct contact with the consumable, such as in beer lines and dispensing systems.

Propylene glycol has a very low freezing point of -59°C (-74.2°F), which makes it an excellent cooling agent. By mixing it with water, the freezing point can be adjusted to suit different applications. For most beer cooling systems, a mixture of 35% to 40% propylene glycol and 65% to 60% water is ideal. This mixture provides a freezing point range of 26°F to -8°F, which is suitable for maintaining the desired serving temperature of beer.

When using propylene glycol in a beer cooling system, it is important to ensure that it is of USP (United States Pharmacopeia) grade and inhibited to prevent corrosion. This ensures that the glycol is of the highest quality and safe for use in food and beverage applications. Regular maintenance and proper handling of the glycol solution are also important to maintain system efficiency and prevent contamination.

Propylene glycol is a versatile and widely used ingredient that offers benefits such as improved product stability, extended shelf life, and enhanced texture and consistency. In addition to its use in food and pharmaceutical applications, propylene glycol is also commonly used in cosmetics, humidors, and even automotive antifreeze, where its non-toxicity makes it a safer alternative to ethylene glycol.

The right glycol/water ratio is important

Glycol chillers are specialised refrigeration systems that are often used to cool liquids, including beverages like beer. They are a popular application in beverage production, where food-grade chemical propylene glycol is used. Propylene glycol is an important component of a long-draw draft beer system, helping to cool the beer and maintain the right temperature as it is dispensed.

The ideal propylene glycol to water ratio for most applications is typically between 35% and 40%. This ratio ensures that the mixture remains stable and does not freeze at temperatures relevant for beverage cooling. A 35% glycol mix is particularly effective, providing a steady freezing point suitable for cold environments. It is important to refer to the manufacturer's indicated burst point, which is the temperature at which the equipment becomes vulnerable to failure, to ensure the glycol/water ratio is appropriate.

Maintaining the proper glycol/water ratio is crucial to prevent issues such as freezing or reduced system efficiency. Too little glycol can lead to freezing, especially if the desired temperature is low, while too much glycol can impact heat transfer and increase viscosity, reducing the system's ability to cool effectively. Therefore, it is important to carefully calculate and maintain the correct ratio to ensure optimal performance of the glycol chiller.

Glycol chillers are ideal for long-draw systems

Propylene glycol is a food-grade antifreeze that is non-toxic and safe for use in consumable products. It has a freezing point of -59°C (-74.2°F), which can be adjusted by mixing it with water. The ideal propylene glycol to water ratio is typically around 35%–40%. This mixture is pumped through a glycol line that is placed together with the beer line inside a trunk line. By keeping the beer lines in contact with the cold glycol lines, the beer stays cold and arrives foam-free at the point of dispensing.

Glycol chillers offer several benefits over other cooling methods. They allow for the delivery of beer over long distances (up to 450 feet) and can serve a larger number of beer towers with different designs. They also improve chiller efficiency, extend the service life of the equipment, and reduce vibration and noise levels. Additionally, glycol-cooled draft beer systems can eliminate foam when dispensing beer, resulting in up to 10% less beer wastage.

When choosing a glycol chiller, it is important to consider factors such as brewing frequency, time between brews, and desired tank volume. The size of the glycol chiller and the amount of glycol required will depend on these factors. Glycol chillers are also easy to install and maintain, making them a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to serve perfectly chilled beer.

Glycol chillers improve efficiency and reduce noise

Glycol chillers are specialised refrigeration systems that are commonly used to cool liquids, including beverages such as beer. They are an effective way to maintain temperature control during the fermentation process, which is crucial in brewing beer.

The use of glycol chillers offers several advantages that contribute to improved efficiency. Firstly, they enable rapid cooling, allowing producers to lower the temperature of the beer quickly as needed. This is particularly useful in crash cooling beer after fermentation or when cooling the wort after the initial boiling process. Secondly, glycol chillers provide precise temperature control, ensuring that the beer remains at the desired temperature throughout the dispensing process. This helps prevent overheating during fermentation, giving brewers better control over the internal temperatures and, ultimately, more quality control over their beer.

The efficiency of glycol chillers is further enhanced by their ability to prevent system blockages and maintain flow velocity. By protecting the system from low temperatures, glycol chillers reduce the risk of freezing, which could lead to blockages and decreased flow velocity. This, in turn, helps maintain optimal system efficiency.

In addition to improving efficiency, glycol chillers also offer noise reduction benefits. The glycol lines are placed in close contact with the beer lines inside a trunkline, allowing for direct heat transfer without the need for mechanical pumps or excessive vibration. This results in a quieter dispensing process compared to alternative cooling methods.

The combination of efficiency and noise reduction makes glycol chillers a popular choice for beverage production, especially in the brewing industry, where temperature control is critical to the final product's quality.

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