Glycol Chiller Sizing for Breweries
The glycol chiller is the most under-sized purchase in most brewery builds. This guide covers the load math behind fermentation cooling, tank temperature control and packaging-side cooling.
Where the Cooling Load Comes From
Fermentation heat, wort cooling through the heat exchanger, and bright tank holding losses all draw on the glycol loop. Sum peak simultaneous demand, not averages.
Reservoir and Flow
Size the glycol reservoir to 2–3x the circulated volume so return temperature stays stable; low flow starves jackets and causes uneven fermentation.
Redundancy and Staging
Two smaller chillers with lead/lag control beat one large unit: maintenance and failure never stop fermentation, and part-load efficiency improves.
Installation Notes
Locate the chiller with ventilation clearance, run insulated supply/return, and add a second temperature control loop for the brite tank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chiller size suits a 10 hL brewhouse?
Typically 15–25 kW depending on fermentation schedule and tank count; confirm with a load calculation.
Can one chiller serve fermentation and packaging?
Yes, with separate control loops and adequate reservoir volume for peak simultaneous demand.
Does ambient temperature matter?
Hot plant rooms cut capacity — derate the chiller or improve ventilation when installs exceed 35°C ambient.
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