What is a Hydraulic Oil Cooler/Chiller?
A Hydraulic Oil Cooler/Chiller is a cooling machine that uses chilled water or glycol as a coolant to provide cooling for hydraulic and lubricating oils circulating in processing machinery.
What are the main components of Hydraulic Oil Coolers/Chillers?
A Hydraulic Oil Coolers/Chillers have different components that work efficiently such as scroll compressor, PHE heat exchanger, filter dryer, sight glass, LCD, PLC thermostat, evaporator, expansion valve, cooling fan, digital thermostat, and air filter.
Where are the industrial applications of Hydraulic oil coolers/chillers?
Hydraulic oil coolers/chillers are used to dissipate heat from different industrial applications such as: Hydraulic cutting, turning, metal cutting, lubrication, shearing, hydroforming, broaching, EDM, milling, CNC machine tools, CNC lathes, honing, water jet jumping, quenching, drilling, grinding, extrusion and pad rolling, etc.
How does a Hydraulic Oil Cooler/Chiller work?
Most processing machines use hydraulic oil for proper functioning and lubrication. During the machine processing, the oil gets hot and can hamper the smooth working of the hydraulic machine. So a Hydraulic Oil Cooler/Chiller cools the oil in the following way:
Step 1
Install a water/glycol coolant to cool the heated oil. The hydraulic oil can be circulated directly through the cooler or it can be cooled by the installed coolant.
Step 2
The glycol/water coolant absorbs the heat from the hydraulic oil and is heated. The hot coolant enters the plate/shell or tube evaporator and is recooled by the refrigerant.
The refrigerant and the coolant flow in countercurrent and exchange heat, the refrigerant absorbs the heat from the coolant, and the cooled coolant flows back to the oil source/pump of the processing machine for cooling.
Step 3
After absorbing the heat, the heated refrigerant leaves the evaporator at a low temperature and pressure and enters the compressor.
Step 4
The scroll compressor or screw compressor receives the incoming evaporating refrigerant and liquefies it by increasing its temperature and pressure. The compressor assists the condenser in condensing the refrigerant.
The compressed refrigerant is discharged and enters the condenser to complete the heat rejection.
Step 5
The air-cooled condenser or water-cooled condenser receives the compressed refrigerant circulating in the condenser coil. The air/water circulates over the refrigerant, absorbs the heat, and condenses it into a liquid phase.
The air dissipates in the environment. In the case of water circulation, the water flows to the cooling tower to restore its cooling effect.
Step 6
The expansion valve is also integrated with the hydraulic oil cooler to reduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant before it enters the evaporator.
Step 7
After the expanded refrigerant enters the evaporator, the entire process is repeated until the work process is completed.
What are the advantages of using hydraulic coolers/chillers in your industry?
The hydraulic oil cooler/chiller is a well-known and reliable cooling device that is used in a wide range of industrial applications. It provides several advantages for the respective applications as follows:
Maintenance of oil viscosity
The heat generated by the processing machine reduces the viscosity of the oil, causing oil leakage in various parts of the machine.
The refrigeration circuit of the hydraulic oil cooler circulates the oil, which has a cooling effect and additional heat dissipation effect.
Durability
High temperatures are generated inside the machine, which may cause mold and damage to the machine parts. After installing a chiller, the machine can continuously dissipate heat and ensure a longer service life of the machine.
Increase work efficiency
The hydraulic oil cooler/chiller maintains the recommended temperature to improve work efficiency and machine productivity. The entire machine is lubricated with oil, ensuring that the machine operates at optimal efficiency.
Reliability
It can help reduce machine downtime, increase machine uptime, and ultimately reduce the need for machine repair and maintenance.
