Air Cooled Chillers - Chilled Water Conditioner

Why would you?

Not recommended. Its toxicity by ingestion is rather high. Were there to be a leak...

First of all, I would only use "Food Safe" antifreeze which is available. This would comply with EPA well field requirements if there was to be a leak in the system.

Secondly, I have over 200 schools and over my 30 years of service I have seen many chilled water systems clog up with rust and black slime that had documented treatment reports by our Chemical Water Treatment Companies. Using Glycol/antifreeze I can test the percentage levels myself.

I hear you about these chemical treatment companies, I don't think I ever had one that worked well imo....but if the equipment fails or anything else that happens as a result, guess who's responsible...better to just go with the company that is reasonable in it's pricing and have an aggressive maintenance plan....cya

If it were <..."Food Safe antifreeze"...>, then it wouldn't be <...car antifreeze...>.

Some people use chemicals similar to automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol)in their chilled water systems. But there is a liability question of toxicity.

Propylene glycol based additives are safer and in much more common use and are required by law in applications involving food products.

Corrosion inhibition is a big issue in this industry and many additive blends are available ....

https://feedwater.co.uk/choosing-your-corrosion-inhibitor/

Depends on the application.

I've worked with chilled water systems on non-food related industrial equipment and chilled water systems on engine room spot coolers and using ethylene glycol is not an issue. If interfacing with food handling or potable water handling equipment, then I wouldn't.

I go back to the MSDS for the product and typically find that if I don't aerosolize the product or allow people to lick it off the pipes, then there is no issue.

It is likely illegal. These are less expensive and non-toxic. (Read the labels before using)!

If it had <...car antifreeze...> in it, then it wouldn't be <...chilled water...>.

<...car antifreeze...> is designed to be used over a temperature range that exceeds 100degC. <...antifreeze..> for use in a chilled water system operates well below this figure. The two materials will have different compositions for that reason.

Plastics would be a way of providing piping systems for <...chilled water...> that do not rust. Why plastic piping is frightening to some prospective users is a mystery.

Each of these two coolants, (car) ethylene glycol and propylene glycol (non toxic) can have a widely variable set of additives that impact performance. I believe it is less likely that car ethylene has more of the additive stuff you need for your chiller than EG made for a chiller. The same would go for the PG. It does not necessarily work better because it is more or less toxic.

Another note, the primary toxicity in EG is due to it's oxygen depletion action on your blood if ingested, rather than a poison. I can see no particular reason to avoid it in this application if it is a closed system. I would avoid it if it works less effectively than alternative approved coolants. Or if it is illegal. I do not let people lick my radiator cap, even though they could, because I use PG.