The EarthSmart™ portable chiller product line from Conair, which was the first in the plastics industry to use new environmentally-friendly R-134A and R-410A refrigerants, has been expanded to include larger models and dual-pump units. Three new sizes (20, 25 and 30 tons cooling capacity) have been added in air-cooled and water-cooled models so that the range now extends from 0.5 to 30 tons.
Unlike conventional R-22 refrigerants (know by the DuPont trade name Freon), the new refrigerants contains no chlorine, so they don’t deplete the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
The popular dual-pump design, as the name implies, incorporates a divided reservoir and two pumps so that the process-cooling circuit is separated from the internal circuit that recirculates the process water fluid through the chiller evaporator. Conair recommends using a chiller with dual pumps to ensure consistently higher flow to the mold in applications where process flow requirements can fluctuate. The additional pumping capability, along with separation of process and recirculation functions, ensures optimum chiller performance even as process cooling demands change.
The new, larger models and dual-pump chillers not only utilize the new refrigerants, but they also feature simpler, more powerful standard controls and construction features that result in a more durable and more compact package.
To comply with the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to protect the earth’s ozone layer, governments around the world have mandated the phasing out of a number of ozone-depleting refrigerants including Freon. As of January 1, 2010, chillers that use these refrigerants can no longer be manufactured. With that in mind, Conair began the reengineering of its chillers in 2007, introducing the EarthSmart product line in 2008, with models up to 15 tons. With the addition of larger models and the dual-pump configurations, the EarthSmart line now covers the vast majority of portable chilling requirements.
For higher-capacity, central-cooling applications, Conair also has modified the design of air-cooled models as large as 500 tons, making use of R-410A and, in the largest sizes, another compliant refrigerant designated R-134A. Water-cooled central chillers, available as large as 1000 tons, use R-410A in the smaller sizes, R-134A in mid-sized chillers, and R-123 refrigerants in the largest units.
NEW DESIGN MAKES CHILLER EASY TO USE, DURABLE
Developing a portable chiller to use the new R-410A refrigerant gave Conair the opportunity to reevaluate every component and streamline the overall design to make these chillers easier to use and maintain.
All models are supplied with the same proprietary multi-function microprocessor control system, based on open architecture software, which provides both temperature control and logic capabilities. These control features historically have been available only on high-end units, but they are now available as standard equipment on the new Conair chillers. Users get:
- Two, 4-digit LED displays to present setpoint and actual (to-process or from-process) readings simultaneously.
- Advanced diagnostics capabilities, including a built-in alarm history, which time-stamps and saves up to 40 alarm records to aid in troubleshooting.
- Temperature control point that is selectable as to-process, from-process or an average of the two.
- Hot-gas bypass function that ensures precision temperature control even when the chiller is operating at as little as 25% of rated capacity.
- Control-panel lights to indicate when the compressor, bypass valve or pump is activated.
- Auto-tuning capability that optimizes control settings to match the actual load on the chiller.
The EarthSmart chillers are built around a solid steel framework for durability. They incorporate rugged non-ferrous components in all wetted areas. These include a welded stainless-steel reservoir and stainless pump, brazed-plate evaporator, as well as other stainless, brass and copper valves and fittings. Copeland scroll compressors, which are preferred for their reliability and fewer moving parts, are standard equipment, as are Sporlan refrigeration components. Chillers are factory tested under load before shipment to the end-user and backed by a 12-month parts-and-labor warranty and exclusive Conair 24-hour service and parts support.
