American
aquatic equipment manufacturer Aqua Logic Inc., shares their expertise in an
overview of water chillers; their function, features, and best use practices
for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
What is an aquaculture water chiller?
An aquaculture water chiller is a refrigeration system that cools and maintains recirculating fresh or saltwater tank systems to the desired water temperature.
Many of these chillers are used for research, egg rearing and brood stock development. Consistent, reliable control of water temperature is key to a successful recirculating aquaculture system.
Maintaining a consistent water temperature will reduce mortality rates, increase growth rates, and produce a quality product.
The ability to reliably manipulate temperature is critical for control of spawning cycles.
Types of Water Chillers
There are several types of water chillers in the aquaculture industry, the most common being air-cooled, water-cooled and ground source cooling.
The supply water for water-cooled units can be freshwater or seawater, sourced from a building water supply, well, reservoir, lake, bay, or other coastal access.
These chillers can range from one quarter up to 1000 tons in size. A chiller used in the aquaculture industry would typically use reciprocating, semi-hermetic or scroll compressors, which are powered by electric motors.
So how does an aquaculture chiller work?
The chiller is comprised of four basic components that make-up the refrigerate compression cycle in which the refrigerant passes; (1) the compressor, (2) the condenser, (3) the thermal expansion valve (TXV), and (4) the evaporator. The cycle begins with the compressor converting a vapor (gas) into a liquid (Condensation).
The condenser serves as a two-fold component. Before any condensation occurs, the high-pressure refrigerant vapor must be first brought to a saturated condition (de-superheated).
Enough rejected heat must be transferred from the refrigerant to lower its temperature to the saturation temperature. At this point, condensation can begin.
As heat continues to be transferred from the refrigerant vapor to the air (or water, if a water condenser is used), the quantity of the refrigerant (% of the refrigerant in the vapor state) will continue to decrease, until the refrigerant has been completely condensed into a liquid.
In the ideal system, this occurs at the outlet of the condenser. In the real world, some subcooling would be expected at the condenser outlet.
Subcooling is when the liquid refrigerant temperature is below the normal boiling point.
Subcooling provides insurance against liquid flashing as the refrigerant experiences pressure losses in the tubing and components.
Read the full article HERE.
What is an aquaculture water chiller?
An aquaculture water chiller is a refrigeration system that cools and maintains recirculating fresh or saltwater tank systems to the desired water temperature.
 |
Many of these chillers are used for research, egg rearing and brood stock development. Consistent, reliable control of water temperature is key to a successful recirculating aquaculture system.
Maintaining a consistent water temperature will reduce mortality rates, increase growth rates, and produce a quality product.
The ability to reliably manipulate temperature is critical for control of spawning cycles.
Types of Water Chillers
There are several types of water chillers in the aquaculture industry, the most common being air-cooled, water-cooled and ground source cooling.
The supply water for water-cooled units can be freshwater or seawater, sourced from a building water supply, well, reservoir, lake, bay, or other coastal access.
These chillers can range from one quarter up to 1000 tons in size. A chiller used in the aquaculture industry would typically use reciprocating, semi-hermetic or scroll compressors, which are powered by electric motors.
So how does an aquaculture chiller work?
The chiller is comprised of four basic components that make-up the refrigerate compression cycle in which the refrigerant passes; (1) the compressor, (2) the condenser, (3) the thermal expansion valve (TXV), and (4) the evaporator. The cycle begins with the compressor converting a vapor (gas) into a liquid (Condensation).
The condenser serves as a two-fold component. Before any condensation occurs, the high-pressure refrigerant vapor must be first brought to a saturated condition (de-superheated).
Enough rejected heat must be transferred from the refrigerant to lower its temperature to the saturation temperature. At this point, condensation can begin.
As heat continues to be transferred from the refrigerant vapor to the air (or water, if a water condenser is used), the quantity of the refrigerant (% of the refrigerant in the vapor state) will continue to decrease, until the refrigerant has been completely condensed into a liquid.
In the ideal system, this occurs at the outlet of the condenser. In the real world, some subcooling would be expected at the condenser outlet.
Subcooling is when the liquid refrigerant temperature is below the normal boiling point.
Subcooling provides insurance against liquid flashing as the refrigerant experiences pressure losses in the tubing and components.
Read the full article HERE.
The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by Perendale Publishers Ltd
For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news
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